Resignation of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber
- For our main article on the Governor of Oregon, see John Kitzhaber
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Secretary of State Kate Brown (D) |
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Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber (D)—embroiled in an ethics investigation and a criminal investigation—announced his resignation from office on Friday, February 13, 2015, effective on February 18.
David Graham of the Atlantic Monthly characterized Kitzhaber's situation on February 12 as "Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber is embroiled in a weird, confusing scandal that threatens his political life. For Kitzhaber's growing legion of detractors, it's theater of the absurd on the level of Portlandia, while his embattled supporters seem to view it as more of, well, a Salem witch hunt. The case is a picaresque tale of ethics, money, romance, and betrayal, plus good old-fashioned power politics."[1]
Gov. Kitzhaber would have tied for the second-longest-tenured governor in American history if he had completed the term he won in 2014.[2]
The state's recent history includes few major public corruption cases, helping to explain public reaction to ethics allegations against Kitzhaber. Oregon experienced a relatively small number of corruption convictions from 1976 to 2010, according to a study by the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Illinois Integrity Initiative. The state ranked 42nd in federal corruption convictions (94) and 50th in federal corruption convictions per 10,000 people (0.24/10,000 people) among the 50 states in the study, which is summarized here. The Statesman Journal notes that the attorney general conducted 145 public corruption investigations from 2004 to February 2015, though Kitzhaber is the only governor subject to an investigation by the attorney general's office in state history.[3]
Background
Kitzhaber announced his resignation from office on February 13, 2015, effective February 18. The following sections detail the story surrounding Kitzhaber's resignation.
Ethics concerns before 2014 election
On October 13, 2014, Kitzhaber requested an investigation by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission into whether his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, used her access to the governor's office to improve her consulting business. A story in the Willamette Week indicated that Hayes advised Kitzhaber about economic and energy issues while also providing consulting services in the same policy areas. On February 5, 2015, Kitzhaber announced that Hayes would no longer serve as a policy advisor following conflict of interest allegations.[4] Oregon's government ethics regulations are designed to prevent conflicts of interest among public officials. Hayes did not receive payments from the state when advising Kitzhaber, but the governor's general counsel, Liani Reeves, noted that she was considered a public official due to her dual role as advisor and first lady.[5]
Kitzhaber's aides said that all contracts and policy documents were reviewed prior to approval to comply with state ethics laws. Hayes stated that accusations about conflicts of interest were inaccurate and that she worked as an advisor and outside consultant to ensure "a clean economy and more sustainable future for Oregon."[5] Dennis Richardson (R), Kitzhaber's opponent in the 2014 election, called his administration "inept and unethical."[5][6]
Financial disclosures
Three ethics complaints were filed against Kitzhaber following his October 13 request, including an October 15 complaint by the Oregon Republican Party, an October 16 complaint by state Rep. Vicki Berger (R) and an October 30 complaint by 2014 Democratic primary foe Ifeanyichukwu Diru.[7][8] The seven-member ethics commission held no meetings prior to the November 4 general election. A hearing in March 2015 would have determined if the commission proceeded with a formal investigation of these complaints, though Kitzhaber's resignation cast doubt about the commission's role in future investigations.
Disclosures made to the commission in January 2015 revealed $213,000 in earnings as a consultant from 2011 to 2014, including $118,000 in unreported payments from the Clean Economy Development Center. These totals were at odds with statements made by the governor and his staff as well as federal income tax documents from that period.[9] The editorial board of The Oregonian made national news by calling for Kitzhaber's resignation on February 4, given the paper's endorsement of the governor during his previous election bids.[10]
Emails about Genuine Progress Indicator
On February 6, 2015, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services released emails between Hayes, Kitzhaber and department director Michael Jordan regarding a new economic policy called the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI). These emails, sent between April 2013 and April 2014, revealed Hayes' close involvement in implementing the policy. Hayes was under contract with Demos, a New York-based think tank, from June to November 2013. Hayes sent an email to Jordan requesting a meeting on May 13, 2013, to discuss challenges for the GPI, only three days after signing a contract with Demos. An email from October 30, 2013, requested $125,000 to launch the GPI and listed Hayes and Demos among the "Oregon GPI Team."[11]
Emails from the same period showed Kitzhaber's efforts to hire Sean McGuire, an advisor under contract with Demos. McGuire had previously worked with Demos to install the GPI, a measurement of economic progress that takes into account well-being and productivity, in Maryland. On December 30, 2013, Kitzhaber lobbied Jordan to hire McGuire, indicating that he was the "best person to do this work...and we need to find a way to bring him on." McGuire was hired in spring 2014 for a one-year contract totaling $65,000, though Jordan downplayed suggestions that Kitzhaber pressured him into the decision.[11]
Investigation by Attorney General
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (D) announced on February 9 that she was initiating a criminal investigation of Kitzhaber and Hayes.[12] She announced the investigation on the same day as Kitzhaber publicly requested a criminal investigation of his administration. The attorney general's office has the ability to request records, issue subpoenas to witnesses and charge the governor and his advisors with illegal activity. Rosenblum delayed an investigation because she was concerned about her office's role as attorney for the executive branch, though former state officials argued that she was responsible for investigating corruption within the branch. Republican legislators including Ted Ferrioli supported the investigation, but argued that a special prosecutor should be appointed to eliminate concerns about Rosenblum's objectivity in dealing with a fellow Democratic official.[13]
On February 20, defense attorney Janet Hoffman sent a request to halt review of Kitzhaber's emails by the attorney general until she had an opportunity to evaluate the documents. Hoffman argued that the former governor's personal emails were co-mingled with official emails without his permission. She also argued that DAS did not "legitimately possess" personal emails, invalidating the documents from becoming evidence in state or federal investigations. Hoffman also requested an independent investigation into leaks of Kitzhaber's emails to Willamette Weekly and The Oregonian.[14]
The state ethics commission suspended its investigation on February 11.[15]
Speculation about resignation
On February 11, local and national media speculated that Kitzhaber could resign from office. The governor canceled a Valentine's Day appearance with Tigard-based Friends of Trees on that day. The head of Friends of Trees, Scott Fogarty, noted that the plans were tentative and saw no connection with ongoing ethics concerns.[16] Jim McDermott, an attorney representing Kitzhaber, told reporters on the 11th that the governor had no intention of resigning.[17] Kitzhaber confirmed McDermott's statement later in the day in an interview with The Statesman Journal.[18]
Secretary of State Kate Brown (D) also stoked speculation by ending a trip to Washington, D.C., two days early to return home on the 11th.
Kitzhaber denies intent to resign
Late in the day on February 11, Kitzhaber issued an official statement denying that he had any intention of resigning: "Let me be as clear as I was last week, that I have no intention of resigning as Governor of the state of Oregon."[19]
Sources report Kitzhaber change-of-heart
On February 12, multiple outlets reported that Kitzhaber told aides on the 8th that he would resign, requested Brown's return to Salem and met with legislative leaders on the 10th before reconsidering resignation on the 11th.[20][21]
Kate Brown's February 12 statement
Brown issued a statement in the mid-afternoon on February 12 saying that her return to Oregon on February 11 was requested by Kitzhaber but that when she returned and met with him, he asked her why she had returned to the state. She described this back-and-forth as "bizarre."[22]
The following is Brown's full statement:
" |
Late Tuesday afternoon, I received a call from the Governor while I was in Washington, DC at a Secretaries of State conference. He asked me to come back to Oregon as soon as possible to speak with him in person and alone. I got on a plane yesterday morning and arrived at 3:40 in the afternoon. I was escorted directly into a meeting with the Governor. It was a brief meeting. He asked me why I came back early from Washington, DC, which I found strange. I asked him what he wanted to talk about. The Governor told me he was not resigning, after which, he began a discussion about transition. This is clearly a bizarre and unprecedented situation. I informed the Governor that I am ready, and my staff will be ready, should he resign. Right now I am focused on doing my job for the people of Oregon. [22][23] |
” |
Legislative leaders, treasurer call for resignation
On the same afternoon as Brown's statement, Senate President Pete Courtney (D), House Speaker Tina Kotek (D) and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler (D) called on Kitzhaber to resign from office.[24][25] The trio announced their support for Kitzhaber's resignation following an emergency caucus of state Democrats. Wheeler made the following statement to The Oregonian:
" |
It is with deep sadness that I ask Governor John Kitzhaber to resign his position as Governor of Oregon. He has accomplished many great things during his long career, and history will be kinder to him than current events suggest. Unfortunately, the current situation has become untenable, and I cannot imagine any scenario by which things improve. Oregon deserves a Governor who is fully focused on the duties of state. I hope the Governor will do the right thing for Oregon and its citizens. [23] |
” |
—The Oregonian, (2015) |
Attempted deletion of personal emails
A records request by Willamette Week and 101.9 FM KINK in Oregon found that the governor's office ordered the deletion of emails from Kitzhaber's personal account on February 5. The order, sent by executive assistant Jan Murdock, asked for all messages in Kitzhaber's personal email to be removed from servers. Several supervisors at the Department of Administrative Service's Technology Support Center refused to comply with the order. Any personal emails used to discuss government business would be considered public records according to the state's open records laws.[27]
Attorney general order for Hayes emails
On February 12, Rosenblum ordered Hayes to deliver personal emails related to state business to The Oregonian following a public records request by the newspaper on December 29, 2014. Attorney Whitney Boise, speaking on behalf of Hayes, argued to Rosenblum that his client's emails were private because she was not a public official. This claim was rejected by Rosenblum's office, which issued the order based on the fact that Hayes worked "extensively on government matters." Hayes had to comply with the attorney general's order or seek an injunction by February 19.[28]
February 13 resignation
Kitzhaber announced his resignation from the governor's office on the morning of Friday, February 13. His resignation became effective on Wednesday, February 18. In a statement to the media, Kitzhaber stated:
" |
I am announcing today that I will resign as Governor of the State of Oregon. It is not in my nature to walk away from a job I have undertaken – it is to stand and fight for the cause. For that reason I apologize to all those people who gave of their faith, time, energy and resources to elect me to a fourth term last year and who have supported me over the past three decades. I promise you that I will continue to pursue our shared goals and our common cause in another venue. I must also say that it is deeply troubling to me to realize that we have come to a place in the history of this great state of ours where a person can be charged, tried, convicted and sentenced by the media with no due process and no independent verification of the allegations involved. But even more troubling – and on a very personal level as someone who has given 35 years of public service to Oregon – is that so many of my former allies in common cause have been willing to simply accept this judgment at its face value. It is something that is hard for me to comprehend – something we might expect in Washington, D.C. but surely not in Oregon. I do not know what it means for our shared future but I do know that it is seriously undermining civic engagement in this state and the quality of the public discourse that once made Oregon stand out from the pack. Nonetheless, I understand that I have become a liability to the very institutions and policies to which I have dedicated my career and, indeed, my entire adult life. As a former presiding officer I fully understand the reasons for which I have been asked to resign. I wish Speaker Kotek and President Courtney and their colleagues on both sides of the aisle success in this legislative session and beyond. And I hope that they are truly committed to carrying forward the spirit of bipartisanship and collaboration that has marked the last four years in Oregon. [23] |
” |
—Oregon Public Broadcasting, (2015) |
Federal subpoena
On February 12, federal prosecutors issued a subpoena to the Department of Administrative Services for emails and records from Kitzhaber, Hayes and other members of the outgoing administration. The subpoena also sought records of payments to Hayes and her firm, 3E Strategies. All subpoenaed documents were presented to a federal grand jury scheduled to convene on March 10.[30]
Federal prosecutors end investigation with no criminal charges
On June 16, 2017, federal prosecutors ended the investigation into Kitzhaber and Hayes without pressing criminal charges. The investigation involved the U.S. Attorney's Office for Oregon, the FBI, and criminal divisions of the Justice Department and the IRS.[31]
On June 20, 2017, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission restarted its investigation, which had been suspended in February 2015.[32]
Ethics commission finds violation of state ethics laws
In November 2017, the ethics commission released a preliminary report outlining four counts of state ethics violations. The commission and Kitzhaber negotiated an agreement to fine Kitzhaber $1,000 for three violations. Commissioners rejected the agreement 7 to 1.[33]
On January 5, 2018, the ethics commission unanimously voted that Hayes violated state ethics laws 22 times.[34]
Second ethics commission report and vote
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission released a second report on February 14, 2018, expanding Kitzhaber's violations of state ethics laws from four to 11: seven counts of conflicts of interest, three counts of misuse of office for financial gain, and one count of improper gift receipt.[35][33]
On February 16, the ethics commission voted unanimously that Kitzhaber committed 10 of the 11 ethics violations detailed in the report. The commission dropped one alleged violation—allowing a staff member to care for Hayes’ pets.[36]
Before the commission's vote, Kitzhaber acknowledged responsibility for 10 out of 11 alleged violations but disputed that he had used his public office for personal gain.[36]
Ethics violations can result in up to $5,000 in fines per violation if there is no appeal or settlement. An appeal would go to the state Office of Administrative Hearings. If the results were still disputed, an appeal would go to the Oregon Court of Appeals and then to the Oregon Supreme Court.[37]
On March 28, 2018, Kitzhaber agreed to pay a $20,000 fine in a negotiated settlement.[38]
Timeline
Date | Event |
---|---|
May 10, 2013 | Cylvia Hayes signs contract with New York-based think tank Demos |
May 13, 2013 | Hayes emails Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) head Michael Jordan to set up meeting for Demos-backed Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) |
October 30, 2013 | Hayes requests $125,000 to launch GPI in email to Jordan |
December 30, 2013 | Kitzhaber lobbies Jordan to hire Demos consultant Sean McGuire in email |
October 13, 2014 | Kitzhaber requests investigation by Oregon Government Ethics Commission |
October 15, 2014 | Oregon Republican Party files official ethics complaint |
October 16, 2014 | State Rep. Vicki Berger (R) files official ethics complaint |
October 30, 2014 | Democratic primary opponent Ifeanyichukwu Diru (D) files official ethics complaint |
November 4, 2014 | Kitzhaber defeats Dennis Richardson (R) by 5.8 percent for re-election |
December 29, 2014 | The Oregonian files public records request for Hayes' emails |
January 28, 2015 | Hayes confirms $118,000 in unreported payments from Clean Economy Development Center |
February 4, 2015 | The Oregonian calls for Kitzhaber's resignation |
February 5, 2015 | Executive assistant asks DAS tech staff to destroy governor's personal emails |
February 6, 2015 | Oregon Department of Administrative Services releases Kitzhaber/Hayes emails |
February 6, 2015 | Former Richardson aides file petition for Kitzhaber recall |
February 8, 2015 | Kitzhaber reportedly tells aides that he plans to resign |
February 9, 2015 | Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (D) orders investigation |
February 11, 2015 | Secretary of State Kate Brown (D) returns to Oregon from Washington, D.C. |
February 11, 2015 | Kitzhaber announces that he will not resign despite media speculation |
February 12, 2015 | Brown makes statement calling situation with Kitzhaber "bizarre and unprecedented" |
February 12, 2015 | Senate President Pete Courtney (D), House Speaker Tina Kotek (D) and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler (D) ask for Kitzhaber's resignation |
February 12, 2015 | Rosenblum orders Hayes to deliver emails related to state business to The Oregonian |
February 13, 2015 | Kitzhaber announces resignation from office effective February 18 |
February 18, 2015 | Brown replaces Kitzhaber as governor |
March 10, 2015 | Deadline for evidence requested by federal prosecutors for grand jury |
March 13, 2015 | Scheduled meeting of ethics committee to determine need for full investigation |
June 16, 2017 | Federal prosecutors end investigation without pressing criminal charges |
June 20, 2017 | Oregon Government Ethics Commission resumes investigation |
November 17, 2017 | Ethics commission rejects settlement with Kitzhaber |
January 5, 2018 | Ethics commission finds Hayes violated state ethics laws 22 times |
February 16, 2018 | Ethics commission votes that Kitzhaber committed 10 ethics violations |
March 28, 2018 | Kitzhaber settles with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, agreeing to pay a $20,000 fine |
How succession would be determined
Kate Brown assumed office as Kitzhaber's replacement as the Oregon Secretary of State is the next in line of succession after the governor. She held the office until a special election was held in 2016.[39] Brown won the special election to serve the remainder of the term.
Editorial calls for resignation
Editorial calls for Kitzhaber's resignation came from these sources:
- On February 4, the editorial board for The Oregonian, Oregon's largest newspaper, wrote, "Whether through gross inattention or complicity, Kitzhaber has broken faith with Oregonians. His career in Oregon politics is one of great accomplishment, but his past success does not excuse the mess he has made of the office with which Oregonians entrusted him. He is now less a governor than a source of unending distraction. He can no longer lead Oregon effectively and should resign. His constituents deserve better."[40]
- The Yamhill Valley News Register weighed in with their call for Kitzhaber's resignation on February 6. They wrote, "Your fiancée, Cylvia Hayes, took unconscionable advantage of the status you bestowed on her as trusted adviser, Oregon’s First Lady and, indeed, even as life partner. And thanks to a concerted effort to contain the damage, what began as a drip of bad press has turned into a torrent of scandalous exposés. You have ardently resisted coming straight and, frankly, that no longer surprises us. While you have enjoyed many successes, your once-admirable legacy has become soiled by your refusal to recognize and rectify wrong turns."[41]
- The Oregonian issued a renewed call for Kitzhaber's resignation late in the afternoon on February 12, writing, "There is no honor in the behavior of the governor, whose sight line to voters seems as untethered as it is to his own mystified secretary of state. It is a sight line that seems blurred, as well, to his leadership in the statehouse, which, Gunderson also reported, met early Thursday and advised the governor to resign. Governor, please do resign. It's time."[42]
Statements from Democrats
- Peter Courtney, the Democratic president of the Oregon State Senate: "The governor is facing serious challenges and he’s hurting. I want to be fair. I want to be compassionate. I want to do my job the best I can. I will not speculate on his future."[43]
- Barbara Roberts, a former Governor of Oregon: "The governor has said he is not resigning, but sometimes you make a statement like that before you understand how much is at stake in terms of your long-term reputation and in terms of the state — doing what’s right for the state of Oregon."[12]
- Kate Brown: "This is clearly a bizarre and unprecedented situation."[44]
- Ted Wheeler, Oregon's elected State Treasurer: "It is with deep sadness that I ask Governor John Kitzhaber to resign his position as Governor of Oregon. He has accomplished many great things during his long career, and history will be kinder to him than current events suggest. Unfortunately, the current situation has become untenable, and I cannot imagine any scenario by which things improve. Oregon deserves a Governor who is fully focused on the duties of state. I hope the Governor will do the right thing for Oregon and its citizens."[45]
- Tina Kotek, the state house majority leader, met with Kitzhaber on February 12 and said it was time for him to resign.[46]
Gubernatorial resignations in Oregon
- See also: Governor of Oregon
There have been five governors in the state's history who resigned prior to the conclusion of their terms. The most recent case of John Kitzhaber, who resigned due to an ethics and criminal investigation concerning conflicts of interest related to his fiancee and advisor Cylvia Hayes, was the first gubernatorial resignation in Oregon since 1952. The following table details these governors and their reasons for leaving office:[47]
Gubernatorial resignations in Oregon history | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | Party | End of last term | Resignation year | Reason | ||
Lafayette Grover | ![]() |
1879 | 1877 | Appointment to U.S. Senate | ||
George Earle Chamberlain | ![]() |
1911 | 1909 | Appointment to U.S. Senate | ||
Frank Benson | ![]() |
1911 | 1910 | Illness | ||
James Douglas McKay | ![]() |
1953 | 1952 | Federal appointment | ||
John Kitzhaber | ![]() |
2019 | 2015 | Ethics and criminal investigation |
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "John + Kitzhaber + Oregon + Governor + resignation"
See also
- Speculation rising about potential resignation of embattled Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber
- John Kitzhaber recall, Oregon (2015)
- Governor of Oregon
- John Kitzhaber
- Judges appointed by John Kitzhaber
- United States gubernatorial resignations
Footnotes
- ↑ The Atlantic Monthly, "Just Blame the First Lady: A slow-drip of ethics allegations have Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber fighting for his political life, despite his best efforts to deflect them," February 12, 2015
- ↑ Smart Politics, "The Top 50 Longest-Serving Governors of All Time," April 10, 2013
- ↑ The Statesman Journal, "Data: Oregon public corruption cases," accessed February 12, 2015
- ↑ Governing, "Oregon Governor Says His Fiancee Will Have No Policy Role, But It Might Be Too Late," February 5, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Willamette Week, "First Lady Inc.," October 8, 2014
- ↑ KGW, "Kitzhaber requests ethics review of Cylvia Hayes," October 15, 2014
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Republican Vicki Berger filed first ethics complaint naming John Kitzhaber, Cylvia Hayes," October 16, 2014
- ↑ GoLocalPDX, "Democrat Joins with Richardson, Demands Kitzhaber Release Records," October 30, 2014
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Cylvia Hayes discloses another $118,000 for consulting fees," January 28, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "John Kitzhaber must resign: Editorial," February 5, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Oregonian, "John Kitzhaber controversy: Cylvia Hayes directed state officials on policy she was being paid to promote, emails show," February 6, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 New York Times, "Oregon Bedfellows Make for Strange Politics," February 11, 2015
- ↑ Governing, "Oregon AG Launches Criminal Investigation of Gov. Kitzhaber and His Fiancee," February 10, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Kitzhaber's defense lawyer wants to block ex-governor's emails from feds," February 20, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "John Kitzhaber controversy: Ethics Commission review on hold as criminal investigation of governor, Cylvia Hayes underway," February 11, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "John Kitzhaber cancels plans to attend weekend event in Tigard," February 11, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Lawyer: Gov. John Kitzhaber Isn't Resigning," February 11, 2015
- ↑ The Statesman Journal, "Gov. Kitzhaber says he is not resigning," February 11, 2015
- ↑ ABC News, "Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber Says He's Not Resigning," February 11, 2015
- ↑ Governing, "Oregon Governor Planned to Resign Then Changed His Mind, Sources Say," February 12, 2015
- ↑ Herald and News, "Kitzhaber reconsiders resignation," February 12, 2015
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Politico, "Oregon secretary of state describes ‘bizarre’ John Kitzhaber meeting," February 12, 2015
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ ABC News, "Top Democrats Call on Kitzhaber to Resign Governorship," February 12, 2015
- ↑ The Statesman Journal, "Courtney, Wheeler calling for Kitzhaber to resign," February 12, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Treasurer Ted Wheeler calls for John Kitzhaber to resign," February 12, 2015
- ↑ Willamette Week, "Gov. John Kitzhaber's Office Sought To Destroy Thousands of His Emails," February 12, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Oregon attorney general orders Cylvia Hayes to disclose emails to The Oregonian/OregonLive," February 12, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Public Broadcasting, "NEWS RELEASE: Governor Kitzhaber Announces Resignation," February 13, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Federal authorities subpoena Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber records," February 13, 2015
- ↑ The United States Attorney's Office, District of Oregon, "Statement Regarding Closure of Investigation of Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and First Lady Cylvia Hayes," June 16, 2017
- ↑ Willamette Week, "Oregon Government Ethics Commission Will Resume Probe of Complaints Against Kitzhaber and Hayes," June 20, 2017
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Willamette Week, "Oregon Government Ethics Commission Investigation Says Kitzhaber Used Public Office to Benefit Himself," February 14, 2018
- ↑ Portland Tribune, "Hayes faces $100,000-plus in fines for ethics violations," January 5, 2018
- ↑ Oregon Government Ethics Commission, "Investigation report," February 8, 2018 (Pages 63-216)
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Willamette Week, "Former Gov. John Kitzhaber Pleads for His Legacy in Front of Oregon Government Ethics Commission," February 16, 2018
- ↑ Statesman Journal, "Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber could be fined $50,000 for 10 ethics violations," February 16, 2018
- ↑ Statesman Journal, "Former Gov. John Kitzhaber agrees to pay $20,000 fine for ethics violations," March 28, 2018
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Secretary of State Kate Brown cutting D.C. trip short to return to Oregon," February 11, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "John Kitzhaber must resign: Editorial," February 4, 2015
- ↑ Yamhill Valley News Register, "The time has come for new hand at the statehouse helm," February 6, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Kitzhaber's bizarre turnaround underscores need for him to step down: Editorial," February 12, 2015
- ↑ New York Post, "Oregon governor says he won’t resign over ethics allegations," February 11, 2015
- ↑ Washington Post, "The long, bizarre — and dumbfounding — saga of Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber," February 12, 2015
- ↑ Oregonian, "Treasurer Ted Wheeler calls for John Kitzhaber to resign," February 12, 2015
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Democratic leaders tell John Kitzhaber: It's time to resign," February 12, 2015
- ↑ National Governors Association, "Oregon: Past Governors Bios," accessed February 11, 2015
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