Key events during the investigation of Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon.
Nov. 3, 2011
The Washington State Patrol confirms rumors of an investigation into Reardon’s travel using public money. Reardon calls a press conference. He insists he’s done nothing wrong and is the victim of a political smear. Few details are released.
State Patrol investigating County Executive Aaron Reardon (The Herald)
Nov. 8, 2011
Reardon defeats his general election opponent, state Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens, to win a third four-year term. Reardon not only triumphs at the polls, he wins the race for campaign cash.
Reardon triumphs in general election (The Herald)
Nov. 15, 2011
Records obtained by The Herald show the investigation began in late October after a female county employee went to the County Council chairman. She claimed to fear Reardon.
Whistle-blower fears County Executive Aaron Reardon, newly released notes say (The Herald)
Nov. 16, 2011
The woman, Tammy Dutton, decides to speak with The Seattle Times. She alleges that Reardon, who is married, took her on county business trips as part of a long-running affair. She is not named in the story.
Reardon used county trips for affair, employee says (The Seattle Times)
Nov. 17, 2011
Seattle Weekly names Dutton and publishes information from people who claim to have found evidence of an affair. Dutton and Reardon had been romantically linked for months on a website that popped up during the political campaign. Records show the State Patrol seeking three years of Reardon records.
Reardon spent money on ‘secret mistress’ (Seattle Weekly)
3 years of county executive’s records sought (The Herald)
Nov. 18, 2011
Reardon leaves town after the election, reportedly to go rock climbing in Southern California, where he owns a second home. While still on vacation, he sends an email to The Herald denying misconduct but ignoring questions about his relationship with Dutton.
Aaron Reardon denies misconduct but otherwise stays silent (The Herald)
Dec. 3, 2011
Records for Reardon’s county-issued cellphone become public as part of the State Patrol investigation. They show Reardon making hundreds of calls to his campaign staff, in violation of campaign laws. Reardon insists there is no wrongdoing.
Aaron Reardon used county phone for campaign-related calls, records suggest (The Herald)
Dec. 6, 2011
Close examination of nearly 10,000 calls and text messages in 2011 show repeated contact between Reardon and Dutton. A Herald analysis also shows that 20 percent of Reardon’s calls in 2011 were to members of his political campaign.
Phone records link Reardon to woman who claims affair (The Herald)
Jan. 27, 2012
Records related to the Reardon investigation are sought by many reporters and government watchdogs. By late January, more than 5,400 pages of his emails have been released. Most relate to his work at the county.
More records released in Reardon investigation (The Herald)Feb. 3, 2012
Attack ads Reardon aimed at Hope are finalists for a national award.
Reardon campaign ad: Nearly the best mud that money can buy … (The Herald)
Feb. 14, 2012
Dutton provides KING-TV an on-camera interview about her relationship with Reardon. She also provides The Seattle Times with records the newspaper says further support her claims of Reardon using public money to advance an affair that began in 2005.
Woman details six-year affair with Aaron Reardon (The Seattle Times)
Woman behind alleged affair with Snohomish Co. Executive speaks (KING-TV)
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