Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown launched a wave of speculation in the state capitol Wednesday by abruptly leaving a conference she was attending in Washington, DC. Brown is first in line of succession to the governor’s office.
Governor John Kitzhaber and his fiancée Cylvia Hayes are facing criminal investigations over allegations they used his office for personal gain.
On Tuesday evening Brown had been scheduled to appear on a public radio program on Wednesday. But the Brown office canceled her appearance, saying that her duties with the National Association of Secretaries of State was proving to be a huge time commitment.
First thing Wednesday morning, Brown left the conference and took a plane back to Oregon.
This week Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced she's opened an investigation into allegations against the governor.