Good governance advocate Glenn Hunter finds it “pretty odd” that OPA legal counsel Joseph J. Przyuski told him to contact the AG’s office regarding the findings.
Variety learned that OPA believed Buckingham acted improperly when he hosted a “meet and greet” gathering at the governor’s residence for the ruling party’s congressional delegate candidate, Joseph James N. Camacho, last August.
OPA’s investigation was prompted by complaint filed by several concerned citizens, including Camacho’s election opponents.
Camacho lost to Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan.
Przyuski confirmed to Hunter that OPA has released the report which he said remains confidential.
He cited a provision of the law, 1 CMC Section 8563, which states that “Complaints to the Public Auditor and investigations and recommendations thereon shall be confidential, except as necessary to carry out powers and duties of the Public Auditor or to enable another person or agency to consider and act upon the notices and recommendations of the Public Auditor; provided, that, without identifying the person complained against or the specific transaction, the Public Auditor may: (a) Comment publicly on the disposition of its requests and recommendations; and (b) Publish summary opinions to inform government personnel and the public regarding the interpretation of certain provisions of this part.”
Przyuski said OPA provides the investigated party and the governor a copy of the findings.
“You are free to contact the attorney general or the governor and seek release of the report,” Przyuski told Hunter.
Public Auditor Mike Pai, in a separate email interview, said the process in communicating their findings to the concerned parties is covered by law.
He said since the law does not mention the publication of the report, OPA cannot speculate on when or whether it findings will be made public.
Variety was also told by an OPA staffer that the governor, who has 30 days to act on the report, can decide whether to disclose the findings to the public.
