The Rhode Island Ethics Commission found probable cause David Patten violated the state's Code of Ethics during a tour of the Bok building last year.
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission found probable cause David Patten violated the state's Code of Ethics during a tour of the Bok building last year.
“Everyone agrees that the things that were said were completely wrong and inappropriate and the Ethics Commission agrees with that too, but our jurisdiction is limited to conflicts of interest,” said Jason Gramitt, the commission’s executive director and chief prosecutor.
The commission also found probable cause James Thorsen, former director of administration for Rhode Island who was Patten’s boss and accompanied him on the trip, violated the ethics code and state law too, according to a separate investigative report. But Thorsen, who resigned last April reportedly for a job with the U.S. Treasury Department, did not agree to a settlement and instead will head to an administrative hearing before the commission at a yet-to-be determined date, Gramitt said.
Patten also asked for and received free items from vendors at the Bok — including vegan cheese, handblown glass, and sneakers — and requested a private lunch for him and Thorsen at Irwin’s, which is only open for dinner. According to the Ethics Commission’s report, since the restaurant was not supposed to be open, head chef Michael Ferreri both prepared and served the meal.
According to the commission’s report, Thorsen “did not chastise him for his inappropriate comments or improper solicitations of gifts.”The night before their Philadelphia trip, both officials attended a dinner with colleagues at a Providence restaurant, during which Patten’s behavior was so “unprofessional and offensive” several junior employees reported it to their supervisor the next day, the report said.
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