BEND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon State Bar says that Deschutes County District Attorney Patrick Flaherty was wrong when he said the release of personal information about his employees broke the law.
The Bulletin newspaper in Bend reports the bar sent a letter last week to Flaherty that also suggests his decision to convene a grand jury to investigate the matter violated state bar rules against conflicts of interest.
The letter was released to The Bulletin on Wednesday. The personal information was included in copies of job applications for assistant district attorney positions the newspaper had requested.
Flaherty claims the county’s legal counsel committed official misconduct by releasing the personal information about new hires. But the bar said that was incorrect. Flaherty did not return a call on Thursday.
