The Rhode Island Ethics Commission on Tuesday fined former state properties head David Patten $5,000 for behavior during a trip to Philadelphia last year that sparked a cascade of negative out-of-state attention.
The commission also found probable cause for three of four violations against James Thorsen, formerly the director of the state Department of Administration, related to his activity during the March 2023 trip. Thorsen, who has denied the behavior attributed to him, will be the subject of an upcoming administrative hearing.
The Philadelphia trip burst into the headlines last June after the release of an email sent by an official with Scout Ltd. asserted that conduct by Patten and Thorsen “reflected incredibly poorly on the state of Rhode Island and their leadership.”
In his email, Scout executive Everett Abitbol said the Rhode Islanders made demands for various goods and services, suggesting it was necessary for the company to win work in Rhode Island. Patten was also accused of making inappropriate remarks.
At the time, Scout was hoping to pursue a renovation of the Cranston Street Armory in Providence.
According to the commission, there was probable cause that Patten violated ethics rules by soliciting and accepting favors and gifts from Scout with the understanding that they would influence his official judgment about whether Scout would get state funding for the Armory project, with part of one text reading, “You have three hours to convince us to give you $55M.”
The probable cause findings included accepting a lunch worth more than $25 from a state vendor with a direct interest in his decisions, through a free meal at a restaurant (with a bill later created adding up to $524.60)
that otherwise would have been closed; and by soliciting and accepting free goods and services valued at more than $100 from a vendor with ongoing business before his division.
The findings of probable cause against Thorsen involve allegations that he received a gift valued at more than $25 from a business with a financial interest in his decisions; that he used his public office as Administration director to gain a free private lunch, and that he accepted free goods and services valued at more than $100 from a vendor with ongoing business involving his department.
Patten declined to speak with reporters following the resolution of his case.
In a statement, his lawyer, Michael P. Lynch, said Patten has taken responsibility.
Lynch added: “Notwithstanding those events being the result of a mental health event — termed by his providers as an acute stress event and medical crisis — that had built up following the death of his sister, father-in-law and, just 2 weeks before the Philadelphia trip, the loss of his best friend — he deeply regrets the impact all of this has had on himself and his family and those who placed so much trust in him as director of the state Division of Capital Asset Management.”
Patten and Thorsen no longer work for the state. Thorsen now works for the U.S. Treasury.