‘OPA personnel did not release any confidential documents’

The Office of the Public Auditor said yesterday that it has conducted an internal investigation “and concluded that there is no evidence that indicates that any confidential documents have been released by OPA personnel.”

OPA’s statement came out some two weeks after Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Attorney General Edward T. Buckingham questioned OPA’s silence over the unauthorized release of a December 2010 OPA investigation report on Buckingham.

That OPA report had concluded that Buckingham’s actions “violated criminal prohibitions” of both the Commonwealth Ethics Code Act and the Commonwealth Election Act when he hosted a campaign party for then delegate candidate Joseph N. Camacho at the governor’s house in Gualo Rai on Aug. 28, 2010.

“The Office of the Public Auditor appreciates the press’ and public’s continuing interest in OPA ethics investigations,” OPA said. “Unfortunately, due to legal restrictions, OPA cannot currently publicly comment on any ethics investigation.”

OPA said the document purporting to be an official OPA ethics investigation report, which was anonymously circulated in October this year, “does not change OPA’s duties or restrictions under the law.”

“Please be assured that the OPA takes its duties of confidentiality very seriously in all audit and investigation engagements. The OPA has conducted an internal investigation and concluded that there is no evidence that indicates that any confidential documents have been released by OPA personnel,” it said.

Meanwhile, both the Senate and House committees looking into allegations and investigation reports on Buckingham said they continue to monitor developments about these issues, including OPA’s latest statement and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel’s letter saying that evidence suggests that Buckingham violated the Hatch Act when he invited staff from his office to attend the August 2010 campaign party for Camacho, then running for delegate. The Senate confirmed Camacho last week to serve as Superior Court associate judge.

Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), chairman of the Senate EAGI Committee, said yesterday that his panel will come up with a report on not only Buckingham’s involvement at the campaign gathering but also on his approval of a sole-source ARRA management contract last year.

His committee asked the CNMI Bar Association to investigate alleged ethical violations by Buckingham.

Rep. Ralph Demapan (Cov-Saipan) said his Committee on Judiciary and Government Investigations is also monitoring issues related to Buckingham’s alleged ethical violations.

The leak of the December 2010 OPA investigation report on Buckingham, which Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has not released, has drawn reactions from the community. The Fitial administration maintains that Buckingham did not commit violations.