McKee, lobbyist respond to latest criticism over Scout deal for Cranston Street Armory

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Gov. Dan McKee’s campaign responded Thursday after the Rhode Island GOP criticized the Democrat for a lunch he had with a lobbyist and Scout Ltd. in January.

Mike Trainor, McKee’s campaign spokesman, said that if he knew Scout, the preferred vendor to revitalize the vacant Cranston Street Armory, was going to be at the lunch, he would’ve brought a policy person.

Trainor added that McKee left the lunch early for another meeting and that the campaign told lobbyist Jeff Britt to bill the campaign for the lunch, which he didn’t do.

He noted that the campaign sent Britt a check of $228 to cover the lunch at Capital Grille on Jan. 19.

Britt also commented on the lunch Thursday, saying he cleared with the campaign weeks ahead who he was bringing to the lunch and the projects they would be interested in talking about with the governor.

On who was paying for the lunch, Britt said that McKee’s campaign treasurer said he didn’t have the “campaign credit card,” adding that he was then asked if he “would pay the bill and the campaign would take care of covering it.”

“With the exception of the mishap of not having the campaign credit card at the end of lunch, I believed the lunch was a huge success,” said Britt.

McKee’s campaign and Britt’s comments Thursday came a day after the head of the Rhode Island GOP said both McKee and Britt should be investigated by the Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State respectively.

“The Scout scandal just gets worse for Rhode Island’s reputation,” said Joe Powers. “After the gift-grabbing escapade by high-ranking Rhode Island public officials in Philadelphia, now we learn that Governor McKee accepted a free lunch from a lobbyist.”

Earlier this month, David Patten, a former McKee staffer, stepped down after being accused of inappropriate behavior during a work trip in Philadelphia with Scout officials.

Last week, McKee outlined the investigation into the reported misconduct by Patten that led to his resignation.