Staff Ethics Commission Fires Staff Attorney

Earlier this month, staff attorney Elisabeth Murray-Obertein was put on administrative leave after co-workers and a police officer smelled alcohol on her while at work.

Tuesday’s board meeting was held over the phone. Kevin Abernathy is the commission’s board chair.

“At this time the board is going to make a collective motion from all five of us to terminate our current staff attorney, Mrs. Murray-Obertein, and we’re going to collectively second that motion by signaling aye,” said Abernathy.

According to the police incident report, Murray-Obertein said she fell on an escalator that morning and was in slight pain. She said the night before she had taken prescribed medication and had one glass of wine. She refused to take a breathlyzer test.

It was the second incident in recent months in which Murray-Obertein’s behavior led to a call to police. In both, no arrests were made.

Murray-Obertein attorney Brian Sutherland said his client is “disappointed” by the board’s decision and is “considering her options.” He declined to elaborate further.

Murray-Obertein is a key witness in two lawsuits that allege an ethics investigation into Deal’s 2010 campaign was derailed due to political pressure. Murray-Obertein has claimed the current head of the commission, Holly LaBerge, bragged about her relationship with the governor and said Deal “owed her” for helping settle the ethics case.

Those lawsuits are scheduled to go to trial next month.