Regional Public Journalism
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Washington Legislature. Austin Jenkins is the Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) weekly public affairs program "Inside Olympia."

Feds: Troy Kelley Paid Law Firm $900K Out Of Funds In Question

Washington State Auditor's Office
/
Facebook
Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley Kelley has pleaded not guilty to federal charges and is on leave.

Federal prosecutors allege indicted Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley paid his defense attorney out of a pot of money that’s central to his tax evasion case.

That allegation is contained in a motion filed in federal court Tuesday.

In the month before he was indicted, Kelley wrote a check for nearly $450,000 to the IRS for future taxes owed. He also wrote a $900,000 retainer check to a trust account of the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine.

Prosecutors said that cleaned out a “pot of money” that Kelley “stole” through his previous work in the real estate services industry. And that those payments undermine Kelley’s defense, that he was holding that money because he was still wrapping up loose ends from his prior business.

They also said that if Kelley made those payments on advice of his lawyers, he can mount that defense at trial. For that reason prosecutors want a federal judge to conduct a “conflict of interest” inquiry to see if Kelley’s attorney, Mark Bartlett, can still remain on the case.

Barlett had no comment, but it’s anticipated he will file a response to the court.

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."