Electronic equipment used by some of former Gov. John Kitzhaber's closest aides was swept up by state officials and quarantined shortly after his resignation, documents show.
It is unclear what documents may have been preserved by the move. But the equipment may provide federal investigators an unexpected source of information as they conduct their influence peddling investigation involving Kitzhaber and his fiancee Cylvia Hayes.
Records released to The Oregonian/OregonLive under the state public records law provide the first details of whose computer was seized.
On Feb. 19 and 20, technicians from the state Department of Administrative Services swept through offices of the governor after Kate Brown took office to gather up computers and other electronics used by Kitzhaber staffers. They did so a week after federal agents served state officials with a sweeping subpoena demanding records.
DAS manager Marshall Wells orchestrated the seizures after discussions with federal prosecutors, according to DAS. Michael Jordan, then the DAS director, subsequently put Wells on administrative leave. He said he did so in part because the move to secure computers wasn't authorized.
Records released by DAS show 10 computers and four cell phones once assigned to Kitzhaber's aides were secured.
Wells, still on leave, declined comment for this story, so it's unclear why particular equipment was taken and whether more was targeted for seizure. An email obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive indicates that Jordan and two other DAS officials went to the governor's office on Feb. 20 to stop the seizures.
Kristen Grainger, a Brown spokeswoman, said no additional computers have been secured other than those retained after Kitzhaber staffers left their jobs. She said all remaining governor staffers were advised on Feb. 27 to preserve any material that might be responsive to the subpoena.
Matt Shelby, a DAS spokesman, said the computers secured by Wells are locked in the state's forensics lab. It's unclear what steps have been taken, if any, to secure any state-issued equipment used by Kitzhaber.
Among those whose state equipment was seized, what the equipment was and their link, if any, to the Kitzhaber controversy include:
Mike Bonetto: MacBook Air and IPhone.
Bonetto, as Kitzhaber's chief of staff, had a front-row seat to the blurring between Hayes' public and private roles.
Liani Reeves: computer work station, IPad, and IPhone
Reeves, general counsel for Kitzhaber, handled many of the ethical questions about Hayes' work. Kitzhaber is trying to keep his communications with Reeves out of the hands of the FBI and IRS.
Jan Murdock: computer work station.
Murdock, a close friend and employee of Kitzhaber, served as his personal assistant. On Feb. 5, she tried unsuccessfully to have DAS employees delete Kitzhaber's personal emails stored in state archives.
Mary Rowinski: computer work station.
Rowinski did scheduling and provided other support for Hayes in her role as first lady. Rowinski also scheduled some of Hayes' private business activities.
Steven Powers: computer work station, IPad, IPhone
Powers served as Reeves' deputy.
Storm Boyles: computer work station
Murdock's assistant.
Roy Kaufmann: MacBook Air, IPhone.
Former Kitzhaber speechwriter for several months. He was gone by the time the equipment was seized.
Christian Gaston: IMac
Former Kitzhaber campaign staffer who worked for governor's office for about a month. He was gone by the time the equipment was seized.
-- Nick Budnick and Laura Gunderson
nbudnick@oregonian.com lgunderson@oregonian.com
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@nickbudnick @LGunderson