PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A lengthy investigation revealed on Tuesday that the governor of Rhode Island played a personal role in the process of awarding a multimillion-dollar state contract; however, it found that his actions did not constitute a crime.
The inquiry, conducted by the Office of the Attorney General in conjunction with the Rhode Island State Police, centered on a consulting contract exceeding $5 million with the ILO Group.
The investigation addressed allegations that Democratic Gov. Dan McKee directed the federally funded contract to the ILO Group in return for a politically affiliated firm, Chiefs of Change, financing a political affairs firm to support the governor’s initiatives.
According to the report, the evidence supported these allegations, stating they “cannot be seriously disputed.” However, it ultimately determined that McKee’s behavior did not breach state laws regarding bribery or campaign finance.
The report emphasized that failing to adhere to state procurement rules does not constitute a criminal act. It further noted that even if personal relationships influenced an official’s actions, this does not violate criminal law. “To successfully pursue a criminal bribery case, clear evidence is necessary, rather than mere inferences or assumptions,” the report stated.
Governor McKee declined to participate in interviews for the investigation and has yet to respond to a request for comments following the release of the findings.
John Marion, the executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, expressed concern regarding the conclusion that McKee could not be prosecuted under the state’s Code of Ethics.
“No Rhode Islander should feel reassured about the contents of this report,” Marion remarked in a statement. He emphasized that elected officials, including the governor, are responsible for managing taxpayer resources.
“State contracts should be awarded based on the best service available to the public, not on political connections,” he added.
