Oregon alcohol regulators may have snatched up rare liquors for personal consumption

The state of Oregon is investigating allegations that multiple members of its powerful alcohol regulatory agency may have abused their authority to secure rare liquors for their own use.

State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a press release on Friday that the Oregon Department of Justice “is opening a criminal investigation into the matter involving ethics violations related to the purchase of liquor by some staff of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission  and possibly others.”

A state investigation published by the Oregonian this week indicated that multiple members of the OLCC leveraged their position at the regulatory agency to secure liquors as part of preferential treatment. 

The OLCC’s director, Steve Marks, was dismissed from that position this week amid the blooming controversy.

Among the liquors alleged to have been secured by the regulators include Pappy Van Winkle, a highly sought-after bourbon that can sell for thousands of dollars on secondary markets.