Governor Benson offers first public comments about $885,000 state contract now under investigation.
His remarks came on the heels of AG's assurance that inquiry "would follow the facts where they led."
NHPR's Josh Rogers has more.
NHPR's series on Linda Pepin and the Choicelinx contract earned a 2004 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Radio Investigative Reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Governor Benson kept his responses to an absolute minimum when he fielded reporters' questions about the disputed Choicelinx contract. Did his administration still insist the contract was awarded appropriately?
"My administration is going to wait for the attorney general to finish its work."
What did Benson make of the request from Democratic lawmakers that the contract be rescinded and rebid?
"You know we are just waiting for the attorney general."
Did he believe his administration showed questionable ethics during the contracting process?
"The attorney general is reviewing -- so as soon as the attorney general is done reviewing we will know more answers to a lot of questions."
And finally, did the governor know that his longtime associate and former volunteer advisor Linda Pepin collected fees on other state health contracts?
"It's all under review. I'm not going to answer any more questions."
If the indications from the Attorney General's office are anything to go by, its unlikely Benson will be saying anything more on the topic for some time. As Deputy Attorney General Kelly Ayotte explained to the Executive Council, the investigation aims to be exhaustive.
"It's very important to the attorney general that this be done thoroughly, fairly and independently. That obviously we believe going to take additional time. We have already started the investigation. Once we have concluded that investigation -- and again I want to say we are going to do a thorough, independent job of looking at this -- we will provide a full reporting to you. And also if there is any action that's appropriate, make appropriate recommendations as to what action if any are appropriate."
The insurance commission has launched a separate probe into whether Linda Pepin broke the law by acting as an unlicensed insurance broker. The executive councilors are confident that both the AG's office and the insurance commission will get to the bottom of the matter. District 2 Councilor Peter Spauding said for him the question is about the process.
"I'm certainly comfortable with Choicelinx. It's the fact that people did not understand, appreciate or have any inclination to follow law and regulations that are established."
Spaulding's view however, is not universal. House Democratic Leader Peter Burling believes the entire matter including the Choicelinx contract needs to be revisited. Burling is calling for an independent counsel, and a full audit of all contracts awarded since Benson took office. Burling further insisted that Deputy Attorney General Kelly Ayotte recuse herself from any involvement. Ayotte had, until June, served as Governor Benson's legal counsel.
?We are getting into this bizarre conflict situation. The taxpayers ought to be demanding an independent review of the Choicelinx contract. The road we are going down will leave everybody wondering how they got screwed.?
The attorney general?s office would give no details of its investigation, but a member of the executive council says the probe includes both the civil and criminal divisions.
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