Oregon Republican lawmakers ask Gov. Kotek for special counsel to look into bourbon scandal

Oregon Senate Republicans are asking Gov. Tina Kotek to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the scandal surrounding top executives and managers at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, who diverted specialty bourbons away from public consumption for their own personal use.

The Republican legislators also want to know who received specialty liquor.

“In recent months, there have been multiple reports that lawmakers, public officials, and management at the OLCC had benefited from the diversion of bottles of high-end, rare liquor,” reads the letter lawmakers sent to the governor. “Most recently, in mid-March, three top OLCC officials were fired for their involvement, leaving us with more questions than answers.”

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, asked his colleagues to imagine if the state — the governor and legislators — were controlled by Republicans.

“Would you be comfortable with those Republicans essentially investigating themselves?” Knopp said. “I don’t believe the public is going to believe an investigation that is not independent.”