Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, may look to make further changes to the ethics board. (Allison Allsop/Louisiana Illuminator)
A personal attorney for Gov. Jeff Landry delivered sweeping criticism this week to the Louisiana Board of Ethics for what he called “abusive” investigations into elected officials’ conduct.
“Currently, the board’s vast investigatory powers are dangerous, unwarranted and threaten well-established fundamental constitutional rights,” Stephen Gelé said at a six-hour legislative hearing Wednesday in Baton Rouge focused on the ethics board’s role in government.
“The board, especially in the past couple of years, has not hesitated to use this power to bully respondents through years of costly and burdensome investigations,” he said.
Gelé joins a growing chorus of political professionals who have criticized the board’s approach and professionalism in recent months. They might feel emboldened to find fault with the board because Landry, who became governor in January, hasn’t been shy about his own frustrations with the board.