Zinke Ethics Violations Report
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Allegation was that Zinke continued to be involved in a land development project in Whitefish during tenure as Secretary of the Interior
Allegation was that Zinke continued to be involved in a land development project in Whitefish during tenure as Secretary of the Interior
"In, addition, we found that Sec. Zinke misused his official position in violation of Federal regulations by directing his subordinates to assist him with matters related to the Foundation and 95 Karrow project."
"In, addition, we found that Sec. Zinke misused his official position in violation of Federal regulations by directing his subordinates to assist him with matters related to the Foundation and 95 Karrow project."
Investigators were denied interviews with Zinke, his wife and 95 Karrow Project developers. However, subpoenas to developers for emails and texts related to the project provided information that showed Zinke was still involved with foundation work, after resigning from the foundation, and after providing documentation to the federal government that he had done so.
Investigators were denied interviews with Zinke, his wife and 95 Karrow Project developers. However, subpoenas to developers for emails and texts related to the project provided information that showed Zinke was still involved with foundation work, after resigning from the foundation, and after providing documentation to the federal government that he had done so.
Details of the allegations are that Zinke and his wife were still involved with a commercial development known as Karrow 95 on land owned by his charitable foundation with a Haliburton Sr. Exec
Details of the allegations are that Zinke and his wife were still involved with a commercial development known as Karrow 95 on land owned by his charitable foundation with a Haliburton Sr. Exec
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Zinke was president of the Foundation until he formally resigned in March 2017 after confirmation as Secretary of State. MT SOS report filed April 14, 2017, said that Zinke's wife was the Foundation president; Zinke was listed as both director and other officer.
Zinke was president of the Foundation until he formally resigned in March 2017 after confirmation as Secretary of State. MT SOS report filed April 14, 2017, said that Zinke's wife was the Foundation president; Zinke was listed as both director and other officer.
Did not substantiate the allegation that Zinke violated Federal conflict of interest laws. Investigation did not find that Zinke participated in any official matters involving the Foundation or 95 Karrow project.
Did not substantiate the allegation that Zinke violated Federal conflict of interest laws. Investigation did not find that Zinke participated in any official matters involving the Foundation or 95 Karrow project.
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Letter of intent, sent by Zinke and signed by his wife, indicated that the Foundation supported 95 Karrow using its parking lot
Letter of intent, sent by Zinke and signed by his wife, indicated that the Foundation supported 95 Karrow using its parking lot
We did not find evidence that Secretary Zinke or any of his family members had any direct role or involvement in 95 Karrow.
We did not find evidence that Secretary Zinke or any of his family members had any direct role or involvement in 95 Karrow.
Zinke's wife withdrew that letter on Nov. 11, 2018.
Zinke's wife withdrew that letter on Nov. 11, 2018.
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Zinke resigns from the Foundation five days after his confirmation as Secretary of the Interior; in his letter he stated that we would not provide any services to the foundation while he held the office
Zinke resigns from the Foundation five days after his confirmation as Secretary of the Interior; in his letter he stated that we would not provide any services to the foundation while he held the office
Zinke sent a memo to Sr. DOI officials reiterating his ethics package agreement and that he had resigned from his position with the Foundation; he then said that he would not be involved with the Foundation for one year after his resignation
Zinke sent a memo to Sr. DOI officials reiterating his ethics package agreement and that he had resigned from his position with the Foundation; he then said that he would not be involved with the Foundation for one year after his resignation
"Secretary Zinke Committed to resigning from the Foundation and no longer being involved in Foundation matters."
"Secretary Zinke Committed to resigning from the Foundation and no longer being involved in Foundation matters."
Zinke, confirmed, met with ethics department to discuss ethical obligations
Zinke, confirmed, met with ethics department to discuss ethical obligations
Zinke submitted preconfirmation ethics package; said he would resign from the Foundation
Zinke submitted preconfirmation ethics package; said he would resign from the Foundation
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"Secretary Zinke continued to communicate and negotiate with the developers of the 95 Karrow project on behalf of the foundation. "
"Secretary Zinke continued to communicate and negotiate with the developers of the 95 Karrow project on behalf of the foundation. "
64 emails between Aug. 21, 2017 and July 30, 2018 show direct communication between Zinke and the 95 Karrow developers
64 emails between Aug. 21, 2017 and July 30, 2018 show direct communication between Zinke and the 95 Karrow developers
At least one in-person meeting at Zinke's D.C. office, where he gave a tour of the Lincoln Memorial to the developers and took them out to dinner.
At least one in-person meeting at Zinke's D.C. office, where he gave a tour of the Lincoln Memorial to the developers and took them out to dinner.
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"Examples of Sec. Zinke's Communications regarding the 95 Karrow project while he was the Secretary of the Interior."
"Examples of Sec. Zinke's Communications regarding the 95 Karrow project while he was the Secretary of the Interior."
Zinke emailed a Whitefish planning official saying that he was working with a developer on the project
Zinke emailed a Whitefish planning official saying that he was working with a developer on the project
Zinke emailed input on design choices, sent handwritten diagram to a developer
Zinke emailed input on design choices, sent handwritten diagram to a developer
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p. 9
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Correspondence with a developer where Zinke indicates that he met with developers in D.C., and speaking for the Foundation on decisions related to the parking lot the developers wished to use for access to their development
Correspondence with a developer where Zinke indicates that he met with developers in D.C., and speaking for the Foundation on decisions related to the parking lot the developers wished to use for access to their development
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"Communications between the developers about Sec. Zinke's apparent desire to build or operate a microbrewery."
"Communications between the developers about Sec. Zinke's apparent desire to build or operate a microbrewery."
Zinke wanted an exclusive right to brew alcohol, and the developer's believed he was leveraging the parking lot and snow storage for this ask of the developers
Zinke wanted an exclusive right to brew alcohol, and the developer's believed he was leveraging the parking lot and snow storage for this ask of the developers
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Zinke exchanged 37 text messages with Developer 1 about how to handle the media inquiries between April and July 2018.
Zinke exchanged 37 text messages with Developer 1 about how to handle the media inquiries between April and July 2018.
"[The news organization] is not our friend. Zinke resigned from the park and has turned over to the board. We are working with the board in the best interest of the community we love."
"[The news organization] is not our friend. Zinke resigned from the park and has turned over to the board. We are working with the board in the best interest of the community we love."
"The message is [Sec. Zinke's wife] is, was and will be the voice and the decision maker on the Veterans Peace Park plans."
"The message is [Sec. Zinke's wife] is, was and will be the voice and the decision maker on the Veterans Peace Park plans."
None of the emails or texts showed that Zinke forwarded any communications with developers to his wife, the president of the foundation. Because Zinke and his wife refused to do an interview, investigators could not ask about their respective involvements.
None of the emails or texts showed that Zinke forwarded any communications with developers to his wife, the president of the foundation. Because Zinke and his wife refused to do an interview, investigators could not ask about their respective involvements.
"Sec. Zinke discussed with Developer 1 how to respond to a news organizations inquiries about his involvement with the foundation and the 95 Karrow project."
"Sec. Zinke discussed with Developer 1 how to respond to a news organizations inquiries about his involvement with the foundation and the 95 Karrow project."
"Thanks for the call. Just want to keep this on the tracks. [My wife] is the board president and I no longer make any decisions."
"Thanks for the call. Just want to keep this on the tracks. [My wife] is the board president and I no longer make any decisions."
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DAEO interviewed Zinke on his involvement in Foundation matters after the articles calling his involvement into question were published in July 2018
DAEO interviewed Zinke on his involvement in Foundation matters after the articles calling his involvement into question were published in July 2018
"Sec. Zinke denied any substantive involvement in Foundation matters and the 95 Karrow project when interviewed by the DAEO."
"Sec. Zinke denied any substantive involvement in Foundation matters and the 95 Karrow project when interviewed by the DAEO."
Zinke requested and was give the chance to review the MFR before it was finalized. The only changes that he requested were grammatical edits and the addition of language related to the design of the 95 Karrow project compared to a Whitefish corridor study.
Zinke requested and was give the chance to review the MFR before it was finalized. The only changes that he requested were grammatical edits and the addition of language related to the design of the 95 Karrow project compared to a Whitefish corridor study.
"The news organization published articles about Sec. Zinke's involvement with the 95 Karrow project."
"The news organization published articles about Sec. Zinke's involvement with the 95 Karrow project."
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Zinke confirmed that some of the developers met in his office in Washington D.C. He said that the meeting was purely social. "We had a short discussion on Teddy Roosevelt's philosophy on the American Conservation ethic and the art collection in the office. We later went on a tour of the Lincoln Monument."
Zinke confirmed that some of the developers met in his office in Washington D.C. He said that the meeting was purely social. "We had a short discussion on Teddy Roosevelt's philosophy on the American Conservation ethic and the art collection in the office. We later went on a tour of the Lincoln Monument."
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Zinke claimed that contact with the developers was infrequent and for context only. "All information relevant to future planning efforts I referred to [my wife]." However, the investigators found no evidence that Zinke forwarded any communication between himself and the developers to his wife.
Zinke claimed that contact with the developers was infrequent and for context only. "All information relevant to future planning efforts I referred to [my wife]." However, the investigators found no evidence that Zinke forwarded any communication between himself and the developers to his wife.
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"Sec. Zinke's use of government resources related to foundation matters and the 95 Karrow project."
"Sec. Zinke's use of government resources related to foundation matters and the 95 Karrow project."
DAEO said that Zinke "misrepresented" the facts, and that Zinke's statements were "very disappointing... and very concerning."
DAEO said that Zinke "misrepresented" the facts, and that Zinke's statements were "very disappointing... and very concerning."
Evidence showed that Zinke has his staff arrange an office and dinner meeting with the developers on Aug. 3, 2017.
Evidence showed that Zinke has his staff arrange an office and dinner meeting with the developers on Aug. 3, 2017.
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Investigators concluded that Zinke violated his ethics obligations and violated his duty of candor when he "knowingly provided materially incorrect, incomplete, and misleading answers" to the DAEO.
Investigators concluded that Zinke violated his ethics obligations and violated his duty of candor when he "knowingly provided materially incorrect, incomplete, and misleading answers" to the DAEO.
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