Legislative auditors cleared Rep. Christy Perry of any misuse of public funds, but found a possible discrepancy in Sen. Jim Guthrie’s reports.
The state Legislative Services Office issued its findings Friday — less than 10 days after an eastern Idaho blogger broke a story alleging that Guthrie and Perry had had an affair.
The LSO’s task was to review the legislators’ travel reports, to look for any expenses that weren’t tied to state business.
Perry, R-Nampa, received five payments from Sept. 1, 2013 through Aug, 1, 2016, and all were appropriate, according to the audit.
Guthrie, R-Inkom, received 56 payments during the period. Auditors found an inconsistency with one payment, for a four-day trip to Boise.
“A committee meeting was held for the entire day on the second day of a four-day trip to Boise, but we were unable to verify that there was any other state business purpose for the final night claimed on the travel voucher,” according to the audit report. “This resulted in a potential over-reimbursement of up to $121.14.”
Guthrie spent the extra day in Boise moving into his Senate office for the 2016 session, Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill told Kimberlee Kruesi of the Associated Press.
“I am not concerned with any misuse of public funds,” Hill told Kruesi.
More about the audit report from the Idaho Press-Tribune and Betsy Russell of the Spokane Spokesman-Review.
