A state investigation has cleared Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton of criminal wrongdoing.
County Chair Deborah Kafoury and District Attorney Rod Underhill asked for the investigation earlier this year. They wanted the Oregon Department of Justice to determine whether Staton threatened members of a committee looking at changes to the county charter — including possibly making the sheriff an appointed, rather than elected, position.
State investigators also looked into whether Staton tried to block a vote of no confidence by deputies by offering a union official a promotion.
The DOJ found enough evidence in a preliminary review to justify an investigation. But according to a letter sent to Kafoury and Underhill Friday, state lawyers did not find any criminal wrongdoing by the sheriff.
Staton’s spokesman said the sheriff is reviewing the DOJ findings and has no comment at this time.