OLYMPIA…In response to Saturday’s announcement that Sec. Dan Pacholke of the Department of Corrections has resigned, Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, issued the following statement:

“Secretary Pacholke resigned for his own reasons. The accusation of a blood-thirsty investigation is clearly an attempt at a diversion to shift focus from the mistakes of DOC in allowing the early release of 3,200 violent felons. The investigation is concerned with getting to the bottom of the mess. Two people are dead who should not be. Nothing changes – we are still committed to the investigation of the DOC.

“The Senate is exercising our constitutional authority and duty as a co-equal branch of government to hold accountable those who have mismanaged our state agencies at the expense and safety of the citizens of Washington. Any assertion that our motives are any other than getting to the truth is ridiculous.”