Ex-Lowry Aide Gives Details To Investigator

Susanne Albright’s allegations of sexual harassment by Gov. Mike Lowry, spelled out to an independent investigator in a four-hour meeting, may well be made public when the probe is complete, her lawyer said Wednesday.

In a statement released by attorney Larry Finegold, Albright confirmed that she is cooperating fully with investigator Mary Alice Theiler, who was appointed by the governor’s office to look into harassment allegations.

Albright, 37, met with Theiler in Finegold’s Seattle office for four hours Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was described as cordial, frank and “quite extensive.”

Albright gave a full narrative of her side of the story and answered every question that Theiler posed to her, Finegold said. The experience was upsetting and draining for Albright, particularly knowing “it will be spread out on the public record,” he said.

“Although recounting the details of my experience were painful, I answered all of her questions fully and truthfully,” Albright said in the statement.

Details of her allegations may well come out when Theiler releases her report, Finegold said.

“We have been advised that whatever Susanne told Ms. Theiler was fair game for the report,” he said in an interview. Albright has not requested that any of the details be withheld from the public whenever the governor’s office releases the report, he said.

The governor’s attorney, Kent Caputo, said his office has “privacy concerns for our employees,” but will not use that as an excuse to cover up any statements that are embarrassing to Lowry. He stopped short of saying the full document will be released, and said he doesn’t know how much editing and concealing of names and details that Theiler will do herself.

Lowry, 55, will have no comment on Albright’s statement, but the governor’s office is pleased that she is cooperating with the probe, Caputo said in an interview.

Lowry has not been scheduled for an interview, and that probably will be Theiler’s last step before writing a report, Caputo said.

Theiler, who has previously investigated allegations of wrongdoing by judges and lawyers, was selected by Lowry’s office to provide an independent probe. She is expected to submit a report to Lowry’s chief aide, Lorraine Hine, in a week or two.

Theiler (pronounced Tyler) has declined all requests for interviews.