Government House financial manager Alvin Battiste was reassigned Wednesday to the Public Works Department, one day after being charged with fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull in a letter "relieved" Battiste of his responsibilities as director of budget and financial services for the Office of the Governor.
Battiste, former Gov. Roy L. Schneider and two other top officials of the Schneider administration were charged Tuesday with 14 felony counts of conspiracy, fraud and falsification of records.
Turnbull's letter did not specify what Battiste would do at DPW, saying that would be up to Commissioner Harold J. Thompson Jr..
Turnbull, in a statement late Tuesday from Government House about the charges brought against Schneider and the three others, said he experienced "no joy or great satisfaction in witnessing any public servants being brought before the bar of justice for actions" committed during their tenures.
Turnbull also said it was not appropriate to pass judgment before all the facts were in and the matter was resolved legally.
The governor noted that in choosing top officials for judgeships and law enforcement positions, he had charged them with "the fair, just and blind administration" of their duties. Additionally, he said, "I pledged to refrain from influencing or politicizing their decisions or actions, and I have done so in all matters, including those related to the actions announced today (Tuesday) concerning the high officials of the previous administration."
Editor’s note: For details on the charges against Battiste, Schneider, Maureen Bryan and Dean Wallace, see earlier story under Local News as well as the court information and affidavit under Community/Data.
