Oregon ethics board deadlocked on whether to investigate the role of Gov. Kotek's wife

For an hour, commissioners debated whether a conflict of interest complaint against Gov. Tina Kotek over her wife's role in the administration should move ahead with further investigation. When it came to a vote, it was a tie.
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[@Deegus25]

Nepotism has no business in office

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

Neither does homosexuality. They don’t want “equal rights,” they want “special rights.” It’s always been their agenda.

[@lisafaust3801]

Kotek's spouse has no business having a role in the administration...total conflict of interest. Not ok. I think this is obvious...Paid or unpaid. It is just not appropriate. Employees and their ability to do their job is affected by this kind of thing.....

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

“Kotek’s spouse.” 🤣!!

[@jenniferdewitt7511]

If three staffers leave the govenors office at the same time, wouldn't it save time to just go ahead an interview them rather than having meetings about interviewing them? All the questions about why they left and if there is anything to be worried about could have been solved by that one simple fact gathering task.

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

They don’t want to interview these people because they’re scared of what they’ll really find out.

[@damonlathe]

Not speaking to the persons is just laziness.

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

It’s not laziness. They’re just afraid of what they’ll find out.

[@NYC86]

You mean cowardness..

[@jonathanevenboer]

What a mess. Regardless of the ethics committee's findings (or lack thereof) , Gov. Kotek needs to make a statement saying the First Spouse will not have a government role now or in the future, that she's sorry for all the confusion, and (if she's smart) that she wants to codify the role of the current First Spouse as being purely an unpaid ceremonial role. Codification means we don't have to go down this road again with future Governors.

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

Just vote republican and you won’t have these corruption issues. 😊

[@crushedorchids]

@@lostinthedesert-hp4bw Pffft Aaaahahahaaaa. 🤣😂 I hope, I HOPE, that was sarcasm. Performatism for good-ol'-boy-ism.

[@jonathanevenboer]

@@lostinthedesert-hp4bw The state of the Republican party isn't much better. I'm against authoritarianism just as much as I'm against corruption. That's why I'm an unaffiliated voter.

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

@@jonathanevenboer Well, Jon, I hate to break the bad news to you, but history shows only democrats and republicans win presidential campaigns. This fact known, I’ll take a strong conservative who knows how to lead over a weak liberal who’s trying his best to get us into WWIII. Dementia Joe Biden is an embarrassment to America. Trump has issues too, but I’ll take his strong leadership over Dementia Joe’s mindless mumbling and kowtowing to our enemies. I’m a retired U.S. Army Infantry NCO who served 23 years (1986-2010) and deployed to combat zones multiple times. As such, I can assure you that the quickest way to get into a war is to show your enemies that you’re weak and indecisive. Weakness equals war.

[@docwatson1134]

Now that the complaint is dismissed, pretty sure governor Brown is going to want to talk about anything else. I would imagine the whole thing has been stressful for both Governor Brown and her wife. And neither actually wants to talk publicly about it, anymore.

[@ericwillis1380]

What a farce, you didn’t even interview the person that resigned

[@steveanimatrix3887]

There were 4 that resigned... this was only the latest

[@preacherpdx5519]

The whole truth is always missing from official statements.

[@Hitbytruth00]

There is no reason a formal investigation can’t be completed. Regardless of what is acceptable or not. There was an attempt to create a conflict of interest.

[@joshuabeach4562]

Do I get this correctly? The ethics board only has obligation to investigate financial violations. This is weak. What was she doing in the Governor's office and what did the staffers witness to have them leave desirable positions?

[@Katie-so9wh]

I have a conflict of interest with the governor office

[@MarvinThiessen]

Kotek would have created an office for her partner if she thought she could get away with it. Not interviewing departed staff was a mistake. If there's a candidate next election that isn't a Trumper and has some credibility, Kotek could be a one-term wonder. Aimee Wilson is not Oregon's Lt. Governor.

[@djackson4605]

By "'Trumper"' what do you mean? This word is frequently used to insult any conservative, so I just want to establish whether or not you're unbiased enough to be credible.

[@hotttt28]

Ethics fora politician? Your kidding me ?

[@MrBearcatjew]

We investigated ourselves and found no wrong doing

[@switch1237]

There needs to be further investigation. The governor may be shady and just got caught trying to do some unethical things. The attempts are sufficient to cause serious concern. The ethics committee is a hot mess at this point.

[@bcassie]

Unbelievable. She needs to be investigated. What a fail on the ethics committee.

[@MW97058]

This was (and still is) a cover/up. I was cheering Gov. Kotek on until this. Let her former staff speak! Did they sign NDA’s? The truth still matters!

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

You were “cheering for Gov. Kotek on until this.” Then you’re part of THE PROBLEM.

[@TimCleese]

Deep dive? Yeah deep muff dive.

[@TheCommunicationCoach]

YES!

[@bill3641]

If the "Governor" is above board, she should demand a full investigation in the name of transparency , and honesty, however, being a Democrat............

[@emmerfarro]

Oh, good god what a load of tripe.

[@PNWJEEPER01]

It seems fairly unethical that the lawyer for the governor, who used to serve on the ethics commission, is telling the ethics commission that they need to quit considering ethics and only look narrowly at the letter of the law. The entire point of an ethics commission is that "ethics" is a set of principles which are defined by intent and values as well as law. The governor's office and their lawyers are dirty on this one. In the end, because nearly everyone from John Q. Public to your favorite sleazy politician on the ethics commission votes the party line on everything these days, nothing got done. This situation is an illustration of the true peril facing the American voter: Everybody's playing dirty party line politics all the time. There are no red lines left for politicians of either party and there are no votes based on actual data, values or morals. All they care about is winning that next election and sticking it to the other party.

[@CosmosNut]

Also just because that ridiculous parody of an investigation was incomplete... what about friends and family or special interest lobby 'making money'? thank you for reporting on this I'm sure they wish you didn't

[@brendacurrie358]

😮Incredibly investigation no speaking with you he individuals who left ? unprofessional to say the least !!!

[@CosmosNut]

Ethics in Boregon politics has become a complete joke. it's all about blue rules becoming blue meanies... no yellow submarine...

[@hotttt28]

John kitzhaber was a great governor and made a big mistake in his personal life . Very sad !

[@kristinebailey6554]

You cannot be serious! He and Kate Brown destroyed Oregon. We moved out in 2016 and it hasn't gotten any better since then!

[@brendacurrie358]

abuse of office

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

They don’t want “equal rights,” they want “special rights.” It’s always been their agenda.

[@drezzy2392]

This wouldn’t have been an issue if Christine Drazan was put in office. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@jacoby1234ification]

This what they wanted let them hold their own nuts

[@jacoby1234ification]

You get what you vote for I do not want to hear it.

[@lostinthedesert-hp4bw]

🎯

[@edwinlipton]

Thought I moved to Oregon, not Massachuttes. "Salem". 2:26 interview with this in mind; doesent she sound like the wicked witch of the west on the Wizard of OZ? "I'll get you my pretty",, and your little dog too! Woww! couldn't be🤔🤔,, could it?

[@Katie-so9wh]

Yep

[@dawnanewday9671]

What a bunch of bullshit. There's nothing here.