House of Delegates Speaker Tim Miley and state Senate President Jeff Kessler said the audit turned up suspicious activity during the administration of former Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass.
The legislative audit was ordered last year after Walt Helmick took office as agriculture commissioner. Douglass decided not to seek reelection in 2012 after serving 11 four-year terms.
Speaker Miley said the money in question may not be huge amounts but what was apparently happening cannot be ignored and it needs to be looked at by federal prosecutors.
The audit report has yet to be released by the legislative auditor. Miley said he hopes that can take place next week at the earliest.
The speaker also said that he and President Kessler are going to review what is called the “friends and family loan program” in the agriculture department.
Current Agriculture Commissioner Helmick responded Thursday:
“We support that decision 100 percent and the Agriculture Department will do whatever is needed to assist in this investigation.”
