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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April
26, 2002
| Contact: |
Mike
Patterson, (206) 624-7990 |
|
Michael Held (206) 624-7990 |
VISITING JUDGE LEONARD COSTELLO
RELEASES
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT FOLLOWING IN CAMERA REVIEW
INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION FINDS NO MERIT TO THE ALLEGATIONS
OF WRONGDOING WITHIN THE THURSTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
Following a four month investigation
that included the review of administrative, personnel, and correspondence
documents, and interviews with nearly three dozen witnesses, independent
investigator Marcia Ruskin has concluded that the allegations of sexual
harassment, gender-based discrimination and retaliation within the
Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office are without merit. The
investigator’s findings acquit Prosecutor Ed Holm and two of his senior
Deputies of any actionable wrongdoing.
At the request of Thurston County
officials, visiting Superior Court Judge Leonard Costello has reviewed the
Confidential Report that was prepared following the investigation. Judge
Costello has made a preliminary decision to release a redacted version of
the report to the Olympian Newspaper pursuant to their public disclosure
request. The County has asked the court to review the report prior to its
release as a means of protecting the privacy interests of all parties, and
particularly those current and former employees who made disclosures to
the investigator. The County asked the court to excise from the report any
reference to names and/or personal or private information not directly
related to the underlying allegations. On Monday April 29, 2002, the court
will make a final determination as to what information from the report, if
any will be remanded.
Three female deputy prosecutors brought the allegations. A
claim for damages was filed with the County in August of last year and that
filing engendered the independent investigation. The three have since initiated
a lawsuit in Thurston County arising out of the same claims, which the County,
Prosecutor Ed Holm and his two senior Deputies have denied.
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