Ethics Commission Refuses to Release All Documents from APRA Request

GoLocalProv News Team

Ethics Commission Refuses to Release All Documents from APRA Request

Murphy, a member of the Ethics Commission donated thousands to Raimondo, voted to dismiss charges against Gov.
A GoLocalProv Access to Public Records Act (APRA) request of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission was returned with 165 pages, but the agency redacted 18 pages of emails.

GoLocal has been investigating the Ethics Commission's failure to post financial disclosure documents of 4,400 elected and appointed officials. The investigation has led to the introduction of legislation by Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello which as adopted would compel the agency to post the documents in an effort to improve transparency. Both Governor Gina Raimondo and GOP candidate for Governor Allan Fung have told GoLocal that they support the effort.

The agency claims that the redacted emails in GoLocal's APRA request are not subject to disclosure because “the material contained therein constitutes privileged attorney-client communications between the Commission and its legal staff and, therefore, is exempt from disclosure pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(a)."

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Ethics staff attorney Katherine D’Arezzo said in an email regarding GoLocal's records request that the emails between Chairman Ross Cheit, newly appointed executive director Jason Gramitt (formerly a staff attorney), and former executive director/chief prosecutor Kent Willever fell under the attorney-client exemption.

But, when turning over the documents, they failed to properly redact the information. Despite the Ethics Commissions claims that the documents were only between Cheit, Gramitt, and Willever, it is clear that at least one document was also sent to Dr. Timothy Murphy - a commission member.

Commission redacts documents
Ethics Commissioner Murphy Big Democratic Donor

Murphy is a professor at Brown University and is the third member of the Ethics Commission tied to Brown University. Murphy was appointed by Raimondo and was approved by the State Senate in February of 2015.

Cheit, Murphy, and Commission member Marisa Quinn are all employed by the University or in the case of Murphy affiliated via Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School.

Murphy has donated thousands of dollars to top politicians in Rhode Island over the years. Murphy’s donations include:

Governor Gina Raimondo: $3,700

Now-Congressman David Cicilline: $2,250

Former Speaker of the House Gordon Fox: $200

Mayor Jorge Elorza: $1,000

In total, Murphy has donated to more than a dozen Democratic candidates and elected officials and the amount totals more than $10,000, according to the Board of Election’s Campaign Finance records.

GOP Chair Brandon Bell filed complaint against Gov.
Murphy Voted to Dismiss Complaint Against Raimondo

In February, GOP Chairman Brandon Bell filed an ethics complaint against Raimondo alleging that the “agreement of mutual support” that Raimondo’s campaign signed with the Providence Democratic City Committee, which was then chaired by Patrick Ward was a violation. Bell claimed that the agreement violated the ethics code because it constitutes a financial transaction and Ward works for the state of RI in a role that made him a Raimondo subordinate.

Just three weeks later, the Ethics Commission voted 5-1 to dismiss the GOP claim of a violation. Murphy, who donated thousands to Raimondo, voted to dismiss the charges. Efforts to reach Murphy Friday night by phone and email were unsuccessful.

Murphy said at the time of his appointment, “I am grateful to Governor Raimondo for her confidence in me. I am enthusiastic to serve on the Ethics Commission and help promote honest government in Rhode Island as the voters intended when it was established in 1985."

GoLocal Series on Disclosure at the Ethics Commission Leads to Legislative Action

After a series of reports by GoLocalProv about the lack of disclosure at the RI Ethics Commission, Mattiello has called on the Rhode Island Ethics Commission to improve transparency.  Mattiello has introduced legislation forcing the Ethics Commission to post all elected and appointed officials financial disclosure forms online.

A GoLocal review found that the forms are only available during the agencies working hours and can sometimes take days to send out the forms.

The Ethics Commission has refused to post the forms of 4,400 elected and appointed officials in Rhode Island.

“The Ethics Commission, like all departments and agencies throughout the state, should have public records accessible on their websites.  As public servants, we are all required to fill out the Yearly Financial Disclosure Statements and the public should not be forced to obtain them only during business hours,” said Mattiello. 

Legislation was introduced to compel the Ethics Commission to place these statements on their website beginning with the 2017 forms due on April 27, 2018, and is now pending in the legislature.


All 50 States - Ethics Disclosure Requirements

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