WSP's investigation of Reardon sent to prosecutor
OLYMPIA, Wash. - The Washington State Patrol has sent its investigation of allegations against Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon to the prosecutor for review.
The State Patrol's criminal investigation began in October 2011 after complaints were lodged about Reardon's possible misuse of public funds for travel expenses, shortly before he won re-election to a third term in a bitter race.
A woman who has told reporters she had a six-year affair with the married Reardon estimates he spent at least $1,500 of taxpayer money on her when she accompanied him on official trips.
State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins said the investigation has been forwarded to Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks for review.
Calkins said the State Patrol’s role in the case is that of fact-finder. The agency will make no recommendation, either for or against, any specific criminal charge.
The State Patrol says it will release a copy of the investigation after Banks decides it is complete and that no further investigation is necessary.
In the meantime the file remains sealed, and Calkins declined to discuss its contents.
Reardon, a Democrat, has denounced the accusations as "nameless, baseless and false" and called the investigation "an appalling charade." He says everything he does is public and documented and he said he's done nothing wrong.
Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe earlier said he asked the State Patrol to investigate because the allegations, if true, could potentially constitute a criminal act of official misconduct.
"Which is why I felt a law enforcement agency should handle the investigation," Roe said. "This was the appropriate step to take, and I took it."
The State Patrol's criminal investigation began in October 2011 after complaints were lodged about Reardon's possible misuse of public funds for travel expenses, shortly before he won re-election to a third term in a bitter race.
A woman who has told reporters she had a six-year affair with the married Reardon estimates he spent at least $1,500 of taxpayer money on her when she accompanied him on official trips.
State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins said the investigation has been forwarded to Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks for review.
Calkins said the State Patrol’s role in the case is that of fact-finder. The agency will make no recommendation, either for or against, any specific criminal charge.
The State Patrol says it will release a copy of the investigation after Banks decides it is complete and that no further investigation is necessary.
In the meantime the file remains sealed, and Calkins declined to discuss its contents.
Reardon, a Democrat, has denounced the accusations as "nameless, baseless and false" and called the investigation "an appalling charade." He says everything he does is public and documented and he said he's done nothing wrong.
Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe earlier said he asked the State Patrol to investigate because the allegations, if true, could potentially constitute a criminal act of official misconduct.
"Which is why I felt a law enforcement agency should handle the investigation," Roe said. "This was the appropriate step to take, and I took it."
