Democrat State Auditor Troy Kelley has a whole new set of problems. According to the Seattle Times, Washington attorney general’s office launched a criminal investigation into Kelley and his decision to hire former business associate Jason Jerue to a long-distance, part-time state job. The investigation was opened at the directive of Jay Inslee and is separate from the current investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office into Kelley’s former real-estate business.
Inslee asked Attorney General Bob Ferguson to “conduct an investigation of possible criminal activities related to Jason Jerue’s hiring and employment by the Washington State Auditor’s Office” via a letter on Monday. The Seattle Times,
“At a news conference Tuesday, Ferguson said he and Inslee had been discussing the issue ‘for some time’ and that the governor’s letter ‘did not come as a surprise.’
“He declined to say what laws might have been broken, and acknowledged that it is not unusual — or necessarily illegal — for elected officials to hire friends or cronies.”
Interestingly enough, Inslee’s deliberation over whether or not to open a criminal investigation into Kelley went on passed the special election filing deadline of May 11th. As Shift pointed out when news broke of Kelley’s refusal to resign, corrupt Democrats—like former Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon—all too often deliberately wait until after the deadline to step down. That tactic gives their fellow Democrat appointee more time in office, in hopes the public will forget the sleaze that put them there in the first place.
Inslee could have called the investigation in April, when news of the scandal broke. He had all the relevant information to do so. But, it appears that Inslee found that the wait-it-out strategy the best course of action for Democrats’ chances to hold the position.
So, what is Inslee’s excuse for his latest act of cronyism? The Seattle Times,
“Inslee’s spokesman, David Postman, said the governor wanted Jan Jutte, the acting auditor and a longtime office deputy, to get her feet on the ground before asking Ferguson to open the investigation. He said the governor’s and AG’s staffs have been discussing the issue regularly.”
Sure. We’re not buying it… are you?
Jay leading from behind. Again.
Jay Inslee is irrelevant.