By Rachel La Corte
The Associated Press
OLYMPIA — A state representative is expected to resign this week following allegations of falsified travel expense forms, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the House chief clerk.
Rep. Susan Fagan is set to resign her seat representing the 9th District in southwestern Washington effective Friday, according to a written statement issued by House Clerk Barbara Baker.
A home number for Fagan rang unanswered Wednesday, and her legislative office directed all calls to House Republican Chief of Staff Lisa Fenton, who said that Fagan is expected to make a statement on Thursday.
Baker says that she was presented with evidence last fall that there were discrepancies in Fagan’s travel reimbursement forms.
In meetings between House leadership and Fagan, the Pullman Republican denied wrongdoing and cited bookkeeping errors but said she would pay back overpayments, Baker wrote.
An investigation by the state’s Legislative Ethics Board was launched in January.
“Last week, we learned that the preliminary investigation of the complaint substantiated the allegations that Rep. Fagan knowingly falsified her reimbursement forms,” Baker wrote.
Republican leadership met with Fagan on Friday to ask her to resign.
In addition to resigning, Fagan has agreed to pay any remaining funds due back to the state, Baker wrote.
In an email, Baker wrote the total amount of money involved is not yet known and won’t be until the legislative ethics board finishes its investigation.
House Minority Leader Dan Kristiansen, a Republican from Snohomish, said that Fagan’s resignation and plan to reimburse the state is the “appropriate course of action and in the best interest of taxpayers.”
“Her misuse of state travel and reimbursement funds is a serious breach of public trust,” Kristiansen wrote in a prepared statement.
In a written statement, House Speaker Frank Chopp said that he was disappointed by Fagan’s actions.
“It’s become clear that discrepancies in her reimbursement forms are more than just clerical errors,” wrote Chopp, a Democrat from Seattle.
“The Legislative Ethics Board will continue its investigation, and at some point will decide what other actions are appropriate in this case.”
