Complaint Opinion 16-04
Date
05/06/2016
Number
2016 - No. 4
Topic
Use of office for special privileges
Respondent
Matt Shea
Question/Complaint
The Complaint alleged the Respondent used his legislative office to secure a special privilege for himself or others in violation of RCW 42.52.070, when he made two trips to "interfere and hobknob" with felons who were involved in armed standoffs with law enforcement personnel. Allegations were also raised with regard to receipt of his legislative salary during the trips and an alleged violation of the Washington Administrative Code.
Summary
The Board dismissed the special privileges allegation for lack of reasonable cause to believe the Respondent's actions violated the Ethics Act. The allegation that Respondent's legislative salary should have been abated was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. The provision in the Washington Administrative Code that prohibits the use of state resources related to certain conduct is a rule adopted by the Executive Ethics Board and beyond the jurisdiction of the Legislative Ethics Board. The Board noted there was no evidence that public resources were used to pay for the trips.