Oregon liquor commission’s bourbon scandal won’t result in criminal charges, DOJ says

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – It’s been more than a year since the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission faced backlash over top managers diverting bourbon for themselves, causing a wave of resignations and public criticism.

But according to an investigation from the Oregon Department of Justice, criminal charges for the scandal won’t be necessary.

Oregon, Washington listed among nation’s top 10 most dangerous states, according to report

In February 2023, an internal investigation at the state agency found that several agency leaders had diverted bottles of high-end bourbons—such as Pappy Van Winkle’s 23—for personal use.

The officials paid for the whiskey, which can cost thousands of dollars a bottle, but they had used their knowledge and connections at the commission to obtain them, the investigation found.

In response, the DOJ spent the past year reviewing internal documents and conducting interviews within the OLCC and the liquor industry. According to their results, the commission’s actions were not illegal.

$70K in family heirlooms missing from SE Portland home

However, these results are not related to the state’s ongoing ethics investigation, which has yet to determine whether the commissioners violated Oregon civil ethics laws.

The DOJ’s findings, which were announced on Monday, came after Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek called for Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to look into allegations of the abuse of power.

“I would like to thank the Attorney General and the staff who worked diligently on this investigation,” Gov. Kotek said. “While the investigation found that the conduct reviewed did not meet the burden necessary for criminal prosecution, the documents and reports resulting from the extensive criminal investigation will be available to the Oregon Government Ethics commission for consideration in its pending review of ethics complaints related to this matter.”

ODFW appoints first female director in department’s 137-year history

The start of the investigation coincided with Kotek’s demand for several resignations within the OLCC’s Board of Commissioners, including former Executive Director Steve Marks.

At the time, Marks denied violating ethics laws but acknowledged getting preferential treatment. He and others questioned in the investigation said they never resold the whiskey, which can go for thousands of dollars.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.