Oregon DOJ won’t bring criminal charges in OLCC managers’ rare bourbon set-asides, but ethics probe pending

 In a letter to Governor Tina Kotek Monday, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced that, after thoroughly investigating allegations that employees of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission improperly used their positions to obtain in-demand bottles of bourbon, the Oregon Department of Justice has concluded that criminal charges are not warranted.

The summary report (linked here) is limited to criminal matters and does not separately address whether the conduct of any OLCC employee violated Oregon’s civil ethics laws, according to a news release from Rosenblum, which continues in full below:

To the extent allowed by law, documents and reports resulting from the criminal investigation will be available to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for consideration in its pending ethics investigation.

The investigation was conducted by DOJ’s Criminal Justice Division (CJ) and overseen by CJ Chief Counsel Michael Slauson. CJ investigators reviewed more than 10,000 OLCC internal documents, reports, and emails, and interviewed more than 40 individuals, including OLCC employees, former employees, associates of employees, OLCC commissioners, liquor store agents and employees, liquor industry personnel, legislators, and citizens who reported complaints. 

Special agents also obtained and analyzed records from OLCC and non-OLCC sources, including liquor stores, liquor distributors, and financial institutions.

“It is critical that Oregonians have trust in our state agencies, their leaders and employees. I am pleased with the thoroughness of the investigation and the professionalism demonstrated by our DOJ team, led by CJ Chief Counsel Slauson, and including AAGs Kurt Miller and Toby Tingleaf, and Special Agents Vince Cui and Keri Jasso,” Attorney General Rosenblum said.

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Governor Kotek Issues Statement in Response to Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission Investigation 

Salem, OR — Today, Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement in response to the Oregon Department of Justice’s findings related to former Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission leaders and employees setting aside specialty liquors for personal use. The Governor called for the investigation last year after learning about their conduct.

“I would like to thank the Attorney General and the staff who worked diligently on this investigation,” Governor Kotek said. “While the investigation found that the conduct reviewed did not meet the burden necessary for criminal prosecution, the documents and reports resulting from the extensive criminal investigation will be available to the Oregon Government Ethics commission for consideration in its pending review of ethics complaints related to this matter.”