In a letter addressed to Governor Tina Kotek, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced that the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded its investigation into allegations against employees of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC). The employees were accused of improperly using their positions to acquire sought-after bottles of bourbon. However, after an exhaustive investigation, the DOJ has determined that criminal charges are not warranted.
The report, which is confined to criminal matters, does not separately address whether any OLCC employee violated Oregon’s civil ethics laws. Within the boundaries of the law, documents and reports resulting from the criminal investigation will be made available to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for consideration in its ongoing ethics investigation.
The DOJ's Criminal Justice Division (CJ) conducted the investigation under the supervision of CJ Chief Counsel Michael Slauson. The team reviewed over 10,000 OLCC internal documents, reports, and emails. They also interviewed more than 40 individuals including current and former OLCC employees, associates of employees, OLCC commissioners, liquor store agents and employees, liquor industry personnel, legislators, and citizens who lodged complaints. Special agents also obtained and analyzed records from both OLCC and non-OLCC sources such as liquor stores, liquor distributors, and financial institutions.
Attorney General Rosenblum expressed her satisfaction with the investigation's thoroughness and professionalism demonstrated by their DOJ team led by CJ Chief Counsel Slauson. She added that it included AAGs Kurt Miller and Toby Tingleaf along with Special Agents Vince Cui and Keri Jasso. "It is critical that Oregonians have trust in our state agencies, their leaders and employees," she said.