Lawmakers Want State Auditor To Leave

OYLMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A bipartisan group of lawmakers has written a resolution to impeach embattled State Auditor Troy Kelley.
The Seattle Times reports the resolution was announced Monday. It will be filed by Republican Reps. Drew MacEwen of Union and Drew Stokesbary of Auburn, and Democratic Reps. Sam Hunt of Olympia and Chris Reykdal of Tumwater.
Kelley has been on leave since last spring and has faced calls for his resignation since the government charged him with keeping millions of dollars that should have been refunded to customers of his former real-estate services business.
In the resolution lawmakers claim Kelley has "willfully abandoned his statewide elective office."
Kelley's attorney said in a statement to the Times that Kelley has received a copy of the resolution and will likely make a public response once he has reviewed it carefully.
If the state House voted to impeach Kelley in its legislative session starting in January, the state Senate would be obligated to hold a trial.