The state Ethics Commission voted Tuesday to approve investigations of whether two Rhode Island officials committed ethics violations during a March trip to Philadelphia.
The commission authorized separate probes by commission staff of the former head of a state properties management division, David Patten, and former Department of Administration head James Thorsen.
The men are accused of acting offensively during a March meeting in Philadelphia with officials from Scout Ltd., a company that hopes to renovate the Cranston Street Armory in Providence. According to Scout, Patten and Thorsen also made various demands, including insisting on an expensive meal, suggesting to Scout that their ability to meet those demands would impact the company’s chances to get the job.
Jason Gramitt, executive director of the Ethics Commission, said staff investigations typically run up to six months in length, although they can be extended.
Here’s how Gramitt, speaking with reporters, described the process: “Now the investigation will start, it will be completed, and it will culminate in a hearing where the commission will review the results of the investigation and determine whether or not the facts are sufficient to have a full adjudication or to dismiss the complaint.”
The ethics complaint against Patten and Thorsen was brought by the commission, although Gramitt said that’s “not as unusual as you might think.”
While third-party complaints are typical, he said, internally generated complaints have happened “often enough that it’s not really an anomaly.”
Patten has since left his state job. His lawyer has said he was suffering from acute stress at the time of the Philadelphia trip. Thorsen has denied the behavior attributed to him.
Lawyers for the two men did not respond to requests for comment on the vote by the Ethics Commission.
Gramitt said bringing the complaints was important since “that’s what the commission’s job is, right? We have a code of ethics, we have the authority to enforce the code of ethics.”
He said the commission’s staff has considerable investigative tools at its disposal, including subpoena power and an ability to compel municipal or state entities to provide documents.
In related news, the Ethics Commission approved an investigation of an unrelated complaint brought by the Rhode Island GOP against Democratic RI House Speaker Joe Shekarchi.
The complaint stems from a bill in 2017, before Shekarchi became speaker, that would have overridden local zoning prohibiting weddings from being held on large farms for a fee. The GOP says Shekarchi supported the bill and that it would have benefited a legal client, Gerald Zarrella.
In a statement, Shekarchi described the complaint as politically motivated.
“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. I will not let this partisan political theater prevent me from promoting issues that are important to Rhode Island’s future.”
Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org
