Category Archives: Government Ethics Commission

How to score Pappy Van Winkle and influence the OLCC: New records show clubby culture extended to powerful circles

A trade group sought a lineup of hard-to-find bourbons directly from OLCC executives, according to newly released records. In late 2021, more than 17,000 people entered one of the state’s drawings for a chance to buy a bottle from Oregon’s stash of highly coveted bourbons. Leaders of an influential trade association liked what they saw […]
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New records detail Aimee Kotek Wilson’s involvement in Oregon Health Authority affairs

Newly released Oregon Health Authority emails provide details of First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson’s involvement with the agency, showing that she considered herself a full-fledged member of the governor’s behavioral health “team” — and was treated as one, too. While the emails contain no bombshells, they highlight the tricky situation created when governor’s spouses in […]
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Editorial: OLCC was home to ethical lapses | Opinion |

OLCC employees allegedly “for their own benefit or that of a third party, used their positions and special knowledge to obtain in-demand bottles of liquor that were not then available to the public.” That’s one of the first lines in the 11-page summary of the Department of Justice investigation into potential criminal acts by members […]
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Oregon DOJ says no criminal charges warranted in bourbon scandal

A state ethics investigation of the six former employees will proceed with the criminal probe completed. The Oregon Department of Justice concluded that no criminal charges are warranted for the six former Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission employees who set aside bottles of in-demand bourbon for their personal use. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on […]
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No criminal charges for OLCC managers who set aside rare bourbon for themselves, state says

The Oregon Department of Justice on Monday said it would not pursue criminal charges against the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission director and other managers who used their positions to access prized Kentucky bourbon. The Justice Department’s 18-page report on its investigation underscored challenges state investigators encountered: Investigators weren’t able to locate anyone who could […]
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No criminal charges in Oregon liquor diversion scandal

The Oregon Department of Justice says it doesn’t have enough evidence to prosecute managers who steered rare liquors to themselves. Top managers at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission who used their inside knowledge to buy hard-to-find whiskeys won’t face criminal charges, the state Department of Justice said Monday. After a 15-month investigation that spanned […]
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Oregon DOJ concludes criminal investigation into rare bourbon scandal

The Oregon Department of Justice will not pursue criminal charges against Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission employees for diverting coveted bottles of rare liquor for themselves and lawmakers, assistant Oregon Attorney General Lisa Upland said in a letter Monday to Gov. Tina Kotek. The OLCC had a “long-standing agency practice” where an OLCC employee could […]
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Klamath Sheriff ethics investigation dismissed by state commission

A months-long ethics investigation into the Klamath County sheriff was dismissed on Friday. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted unanimously to dismiss a complaint filed against Sheriff Chris Kaber almost a year ago. It wraps up a public dispute involving the sheriff’s alleged beneficial treatment of his two sons who work in the same department. […]
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Klamath County Sheriff Chris Kaber exonerated in ethics violation case

Allegations of potential nepotism and other ethical violations against Klamath County’s sheriff have been dismissed. Nine months after county commissioners filed complaints with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, Sheriff Chris Kaber has been exonerated. In August 2023, Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot submitted a complaint to OGEC with allegations of nepotism and conflicts of interest. […]
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Gov. Tina Kotek, apologizing amid backlash, says she will not create Office of the First Spouse

Amid strong public backlash, Gov. Tina Kotek announced Wednesday that she will not create an Office of the First Spouse for her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson. But what exactly Kotek Wilson’s role will look like moving forward is unclear. For now, Kotek said her wife’s duties will be limited to making ceremonial appearances and listening […]
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