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Records: Kitzhaber Asked Staff To Align Governor's Office With Hayes' Paid Interests

File photo of Oregon first lady Cylvia Hayes speaking in Bend in 2012.
Chris Lehman
/
Northwest News Network
File photo of Oregon first lady Cylvia Hayes speaking in Bend in 2012.

Former governor JohnKitzhaberdirected his office to align some of its interests with the onesfiancéeCylviaHayes was being paid to advance, according to newly-released emails.

Kitzhabertold his staff that Hayes’ message on clean energy from the governor’s office should the same as the one she was being paid to promote.

TheOregonian got a hold of a 2011 memo, and that’s whereKitzhaberwrotes, “There cannot be any daylight between them.”

He meant between Hayes’ message as a consultant and the first lady.

In the memo to staff, the former governor also said, "This is another reason why she needs a role in developing policy itself.”

Federal investigators have been looking into whetherKitzhaberand Hayes broke ethics laws.

This memo was not part of an earlier release from state files. The newspaper got it by requesting messages to his former chiefs of staff.

Kitzhaberresigned in February amid the criminal ethics investigation and has repeatedly denied misusing his role.

Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network

Ashley Stewart