The Rhode Island Ethics Commission Tuesday dismissed a complaint against Tony Silva, the former chief of staff for Gov. Dan McKee.
On a 7-0 vote, the Ethics Commission found probable cause did not exist to believe that Silva violated the code of ethics. The commission is expected to outline its thinking in a report later this month.
The state Republican Party filed the complaint against Silva in August, saying he should have disclosed his financial interest in a property in Cumberland. Silva backed plans to build a house on the mostly wetlands parcel owned by his family. The state environmental agency rejected a wetlands permit for the property in 2019, although it approved one last year.
State GOP Chairwoman Sue Cienki criticized the decision by the Ethics Commission.
“The Ethics Commission stated the reason for not finding probable cause was the statute was ambiguous,” Cienki said in a statement. “If the commission felt the statute was ambiguous, the commission had years to clarify the language. Additionally, their interpretation will allow public officials to hide their financial interest in property and that goes against the public’s right to know if a public official has a financial interest and transparency.”
A related investigation by the state attorney general’s office is ongoing., said Kristy dosReis, spokeswoman for Attorney General Peter Neronha.
McKee initially stood by Silva, a former Cumberland police chief and state DMV head. By the end of August, Silva stepped down as the governor’s chief of staff, and McKee called the land controversy a distraction.
Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org. Follow him on Twitter @IanDon. Sign up here for his weekly RI politics and media newsletter.
