Judge rules against petition to recall indicted Washington state auditor



TACOMA (AP) — An effort to recall Auditor Troy Kelley will not move forward following a ruling by a Pierce County Superior Court judge that the petition did not meet the legal threshold to put a recall before state voters.

The ruling by Judge Frank Cuthbertson came Friday after an hour of arguments over the recall charges filed by Will Knedlik.

Knedlik accused Kelley of several violations of his terms of office, from inadequate auditing to abuses of power to violating the state Constitution by living in Tacoma instead of Olympia.

Kelley, who is currently on leave, pleaded not guilty in federal court last month on 10 felony counts, including allegations he failed to pay taxes.

Kelley, who has pleaded not guilty to several federal charges including tax evasion, is currently on unpaid leave from his office and has resisted several calls from state leaders to resign.