A version of this article was originally published in The Daily Brief, our Maine politics newsletter. Sign up here for daily news and insight from politics editor Michael Shepherd.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Attorney General Aaron Frey’s No. 2 was tasked with investigating his boss’ relationship with a subordinate that was made public this week, a spokesperson said.
The Democrat’s late Tuesday disclosure that he has been in a relationship since August with a married employee whom he supervised led to strong reactions in the State House on Wednesday, but information about how his office handled it is still coming out.
What we know: After the Bangor Daily News began investigating tips about the relationship, Frey released a statement late Tuesday confirming it. Frey said his No. 2 was now supervising his romantic partner that he “formerly supervised” and apologized for not making a new supervisory arrangement sooner.
Virtually all day Wednesday, Frey did not answer key questions. In the late evening, Cara Courchesne, a communications professional hired by Frey to handle questions, confirmed Deputy Attorney General Christopher Taub only began supervising the subordinate on Tuesday. She also said Taub conducted a review last week finding Frey violated no rules or laws, something the attorney general said in his statement without referencing a review.
A close reading of the attorney general’s harassment policy finds that this may be correct. It does not address consensual workplace relationships. But if Frey had been a rank-and-file supervisor in Gov. Janet Mills’ administration, he would have been at odds with a policy requiring supervisors in relationships with subordinates to disclose them so other arrangements can be considered.
What we don’t know: Not everything about Taub’s role is public. In response to questions about how others in the attorney general’s office first learned of the relationship and whom Taub spoke to during the review, Courchesne said she had to learn more about state rules governing such reviews. Frey’s official spokesperson, Danna Hayes, referred all questions to Courchesne.
The response: Most top Democrats in Augusta were silent on Frey’s disclosure, including Mills. Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash said through a spokesperson that he was “deeply disappointed” in Frey and that his office would be reviewing the attorney general’s policies. Legislative Republicans were harsh, with House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham of Winter Harbor saying Frey’s conduct was “concerning and disturbing.”
Frey only responded to Jackson, with Courchesne saying the attorney general understood the concerns and welcomed a review of his office’s policies.
Before Frey issued his statement on Tuesday night, both he and his romantic partner sent messages to colleagues disclosing the relationship, according to emails obtained in a public-records request. The written responses from others in the office were positive, though one of them seemed surprised.
“Wow!! He’s a great person,” one employee told the subordinate, referring to Frey. “I wish you both well.”
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