Ethics Commission Votes 5-0 to Investigate Shekarchi
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi is the subject of an investigation by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission.
The Commission voted 5-0 to move forward with investigating the complaint filed by the Rhode Island State GOP Chair.
Shekarchi dismissed the importance of the investigation and charged that the allegations were partisan.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"The action taken today merely means the Ethics Commission needs more time to review the partisan complaint by the Republican Party. I look forward to mounting a vigorous defense against this political complaint," said Shekarchi.
"I will not let this partisan political theater prevent me from promoting issues that are important to Rhode Island’s future,” he added.
GOP Complaint
The GOP alleges in its complaint that Shekarchi was pushing legislation that overrode local control over zoning to financially benefit his legal client.
Republican Party of R.I. Chairman Joe Powers said in a statement:
“I would like to thank the Ethics Commission for launching investigations into Shekarchi as well as Patten and Thorsen for their unethical conduct. However, because the Ethics Commission staff has not filed an ethics complaint against McKee for his free lunch, it appears we will need to do it to jump-start that investigation.
Unethical behavior by our top public officials gives Rhode Island a bad reputation. In order to do business in Rhode Island, you should not need to give gifts, free lunches, campaign donations to public officials, or hire a legislator as your lawyer. The Ethics Commission will need to fine Patten and Thorsen in order to start rehabilitating our state’s national reputation. The Ethics Commission will need to fine Shekarchi to show statehouse legislators that their job is to look out for the needs of their constituents, not their clients. If these public officials are not fined, people will believe that Rhode Island is a state on the take.”
Speakers and Controversies
Shekarchi is not the first Speaker of the House to become embroiled in controversy in the past few years.
Gordon Fox pled guilty to federal criminal charges in 2015. Years earlier, in 2003, Fox was fined $10,000 by the Ethics Commission when he served as Majority Leader of the House -- prior to ascending to the Speaker's position.
And, Shekarchi’s direct predecessor Nick Mattiello was tied to a state grand jury related to the Rhode Island Convention Center.
McKee Administration
The Ethics Commission also voted to investigate two former McKee administration officials, David Patten and James Thorsen, for their controversial and bizarre interaction with the state's contractor for the revival of the Cranston Street Armory. Some of the questionable behavior took place during a trip to Philadelphia to meet with the company - Scout.
McKee said in a statement, “The Ethics Commission plays an important role in government and we look forward to them carrying out that work and conducting their due diligence into this matter.”
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