RI leaders plan Washington Bridge audit hearings, McKee welcomes proceedings

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island House Speaker Shekarchi and Senate President Valarie Lawson said that Oversight Committee hearings were being scheduled to investigate Governor Dan McKee’s administration withholding a forensic audit of the Washington Bridge for over a year.

The politicians said that meetings would be held on Oct. 2 to discuss the “scheduling and format” of the hearings, and that they may require state officials to speak under oath.

The meetings were announced after McKee had sent a letter to the Speaker and Senate President on Wednesday, requesting for the oversight hearings.

In the letter, McKee said “I am writing to respectfully urge you to schedule oversight hearings regarding the Washington Bridge matter. My office has remained steadfast in its commitment to transparency on the issue, and we fully welcome the opportunity to participate in such proceedings.”

McKee said the decision to keep the report private for so long was made in the “best interest” of Rhode Islanders, and that his team chose to sue several companies it said failed to properly maintain the bridge.

McKee’s administration released the report on Sept. 26.

In Wednesday’s letter, McKee said “although my inclination was always to release the forensic report once its was finalized, I was instructed that such a release before trial could jeopardize the case and the potential recovery of millions of dollars in damages that have been suffered by our taxpayers.”

McKee added that the lawsuit against contractors on the Washington Bridge is “ongoing and is being handled by private counsel and the Attorney General’s Office.”

The full statement from Shekarchi and Lawson can be read below:

We indicated two days ago that we are directing our Oversight Committees to hold joint hearings.  We will be meeting tomorrow to begin discussing the scheduling of the hearings and the format, which may include putting state officials under oath.  We are consulting with Attorney General Peter Neronha and other attorneys representing the state’s interest in ongoing litigation involving the Washington Bridge.