The Oregon Ethics Commission rejects a fine of 500 US dollars in the Pappy van Winkle Bourbon scandal

According to the Ethics Commission of the Ethics Commission of Oregon Government, the former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission should pay more than 500 US dollars because it has used its position to secure a coveted bottle of bourbon that is normally almost impossible for the public.

Steve Marks, appointed by the democratic governor John Kiterwäter and put back under pressure from the democratic governor Tina Kotek, had negotiated a contract to pay 500 US dollars for his role in the scandal around Pappy van Winkle bottle. In a 7-1 vote on Friday, the ethics committee rejected this deal.

David Fiskum, the chairman of the Commission, said that he believed that the responsibility of Marks was greater than other employees below him who also bought bottles of the bourbon outside the normal system.

Susan Myers, the commission's executive director, said her investigation bought the practice of buying bottles from Pappy van Winkle outside the regular process for all customers of the state -regulated spirits transactions that recalled more than three decades.

The OLCC controls the sale of hardness in Oregon, and some highly sought -after brands are often difficult to buy for the public because demand exceeds the supply. Pappy van Winkle variations are among the estimated bourbons and among the most expensive on the free market. The OLCC usually made it available to the public via a lottery system. (In 2022, the state had only five bottles with 23-year-old Pappy van Winkle in the lottery that attracted almost 21,000 participants.)

However, the state agency also attached a reserve supply if something happened to the bottles intended for the public. Myers said brands and other state workers bought bottles that were kept in this reserve supply.

Ethics commissioner Richard Burke said that he had the feeling that Marks received enough punishment because he left his job and was the subject of many media reporting.

“Our mission is primarily to educate not to punish,” said Burke.

The fine of $ 500 that were agreed to pay would be the same as the deals, which were recently achieved with two other high-ranking OLCC employees. With the rejection of the Commission, markings and the state are now trying to negotiate a strict punishment.