Auditor Impeachment Drive Begins In State Legislature

After a federal judge delayed the trial of Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley on his indictment, new calls have come from the state legislature to impeach him.

Kelley is facing a ten-count federal indictment stemming from various allegations before he became a state representative, and then Auditor in 2012.  They include theft, tax evasion, and other financial crimes.

 Federal judge Ronald Leighton pushed back the trial from next month to January 2016, prompting two GOP representatives to introduce a resolution calling for the drafting of articles of impeachment.  Drew Stokesbary, and Drew MacEwen introduced the measure that would require it be done by May 22nd.

Democratic Senator Cyrus Habib also suggested the House begin the impeachment process.   Legislators were ok with Kelley taking a leave of absence, seeing as how the trial was set to start in June.

But with the pushback, they believe Kelley should be completely removed from office. He has already relinquished his duties to others in the office who will act in his place.

Part of the reason the judge pushed back the trial is prosecutors and the defense have to sift through some 65,000 pages of evidence and information that was surrendered by Kelley by way of a federal subpoena.