Ethics in Government

State ethics watchdogs will pause their investigation into Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission employees implicated in bourbon-hoarding.

Drama surrounding the secretary of state's role with a private cannabis company overshadowed a report about how the state is handling pot businesses.

Records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive show the performance audit was all but finalized by the time Fagan pulled out of the audit.

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, a Democrat, has been consulting since February for a cannabis company with strong political ties to elected Democrats — and large sums of unpaid taxes.

The secretary of state says she made clear to staff in February that she could no longer be involved in the audit, due to an impending contract with a couple whose business practices have since come into question.