Ethics panel to probe hiring of gov's niece

It was fine for Bill Rappleye to ask Governor Carcieri about this. And now . . . 

AP via BeloBlog:

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island's Ethics Commission has decided to investigate a complaint that Governor Carcieri violated anti-nepotism rules by hiring his niece.

The commission unanimously voted to pursue the matter during its meeting today.

The chairman of the state Democratic Party filed the complaint in June after a TV station reported that Carcieri employs his niece, Stephanie Accaputo. Accaputo is the daughter of Carcieri's wife's brother. The Journal had reported the 2002 hiring in January 2003.

State ethics regulations in place since 1991 bar state officials from hiring their nieces, including those related by marriage. Carcieri has argued that the rules weren't clear when Accaputo was hired to work for his office.

In June, the Ethics Commission refused to give Governor Carcieri an after-the-fact legal approval of the hiring.

Carcieri's lawyers were not immediately available for comment.