Ernest declined to comment.
Sought for reaction, Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham emailed the Variety: “For the next two weeks or so, I will, while continuing my responsibilities as attorney general, work with all the members of the criminal division.”
Variety was told Ernest would return as assistant attorney general, but no longer as chief prosecutor.
Buckingham added, “This period will hopefully strengthen some changes we have recently made to create working teams of prosecutors and legal assistants. Whenever changes like this occur it’s important to maintain teamwork and communication.”
Among several controversies Ernest earlier refused to sign the theft of utility services charge filed by the Attorney General’s Office against the wife of Public Auditor Mike Pai who had been publicly feuding with Buckingham over the political meet and greet event hosted by the AG last year.
Ernest did not sign the charging document against Joanna Pai because no investigation was conducted and the case was “weak.”
Variety learned that it was Assistant Attorney General Shelli Neal who signed the charging document.
Neal, who is now the senior prosecutor in the criminal division due to a rapid personnel turnover, is being groomed to be the next chief prosecutor.
Last May, Buckingham forced Ernest to “resign” for “disloyalty,” only to rehire him on the following day.
