The on-going federal investigation into Democrat Troy Kelley began before he took office as state auditor in January 2013. It is unclear whether or not Kelley knew of the investigation before taking office. However, it is clear that Kelley knew of the investigation shortly after (nearly two years ago).
According to the Olympian, Attorney Scott Smith said he notified Kelley on April 30, 2013 of “a grand jury subpoena five days earlier requesting documents from a lawsuit Kelley had settled with Smith’s client, Old Republic Title.” This information is at odds with a statement made by the Auditor’s Office spokesman asserting Kelley did not know when the investigation first began. It also makes Kelley’s claims of ignorance regarding the nature of the federal investigation—which resulted in the subpoena of office records and search of his home— all the more implausible.
GOP state Sen. Mark Miloscia, chairman of the Senate Accountability and Reform Committee, invited Kelley to testify on the ongoing federal investigation into his past business dealings and explain why he has maintained silence on the topic this Wednesday, April 1st. As Shift has reported, evidence based on lawsuits over the past decade involving Kelley and business associates link the current state auditor to misappropriation of $3.8 million from mortgage borrowers, money laundering, tax evasion, and even burglary.
Kelley has yet to respond to the invitation. He continues to maintain his silence, refusing to respond to media inquiries regarding his involvement in the federal investigation.
So, perhaps the most important question to ask is who will be the first Democrat elected official to call on Troy Kelley to do the right thing, and step away from a job that requires public trust?
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