Report: Kitzhaber violated ethics laws 11 times

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – An investigative report says former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber allegedly violated state ethics laws 11 times during his third and fourth terms as governor.

The Statesman Journal reports that the Oregon Government Ethics Commission will vote Friday on whether it agrees with its staff’s findings.

The report released Wednesday says Kitzhaber, who resigned in 2015 because of the scandal, used his office for financial gain, or to avoid financial problems, for fiancee’ Cylvia Hayes of Bend and her consulting firm, 3EStrategies. The report also said Kitzhaber failed to follow state laws to handle “potential conflicts of interest” when he took actions that may have impacted the consulting firm’s financial interests.

Kitzhaber has admitted to allegations he failed to publicly declare a potential conflict of interest between his elected position and Hayes’ work as a clean energy consultant.

Last November, the government ethics panel rejected a proposed $1,000 fine of Kitzhaber on a 7-1 vote, with some commissioners feeling it was too low. The commission’s investigators continued their investigation as a result.