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Audit finds background check failures in cannabis director hire
Erin DuPree stepped down as Director of the Office of Cannabis Management just one day after she was announced as Gov. Walz’s pick for the job.
ST PAUL, Minn. — A new report from Minnesota’s Legislative Auditor finds Gov. Tim Walz’s office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) “departed from its Standard Operating Procedure” in the background check process that led to the failed one-day hiring of Erin DuPree as director of the Office of Cannabis Management last fall.
DuPree was named to the job on Sept. 21, but announced she was stepping down one day later after published reports suggested her Apple Valley hemp business sold products that exceeded THC limits, and had tens of thousands of dollars in tax liens. DuPree denied knowingly selling illegal products and said such items were removed from the business when she became aware of them.
According to the auditor’s report published online Thursday, “three differences from the Standard Operating Procedure, in particular—all related to the background check—contributed to Governor Walz appointing Ms. Dupree as Director of the Office of Cannabis Management without having full and complete information.”
The report said during the background check process, the governor’s office failed to send signed release forms to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, instead sending them directly to the BCA under the assumption that agency would work with the Department of Revenue on the background check. According to the report, the BCA instead conducted its financial background checks of DuPree using a different system than the Department of Revenue, and as a result, “did not identify any unpaid tax liens.”
In addition, the report states the BCA failed to involve the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED) in its process, “which was typically involved in these types of background checks on behalf of the Governor’s Office.”
The audit states the governor’s office also relied on the BCA’s summary report, rather than a full background report, but noted that was “similar to past practice” for the office. The legislative auditor also noted a “small number of appointments” by the governor’s office “are especially sensitive and subject to additional scrutiny; this was the case for the OCM Director position.”
The auditor recommended that the governor’s office independently confirm background checks for sensitive positions in the future, and wait to make appointments for such positions until receiving a complete background check report.
In a letter to the legislative auditor in response, General Counsel Mary Fee claimed Gov. Walz’s office was attempting a “more rigorous process than the standard background checks” by deferring to the BCA as a “much higher bar” similar to the reviews conducted for the BCA’s own agents. However, Fee noted “there were several issues identified subsequently that were not included in the BCA review, and the Office was unaware that it lacked full information.”
The letter states the governor’s office has already made changes to its background check process, including those suggested in the audit.
The botched hiring led Republicans to criticize the Walz administration for failing to do its due diligence.
The administration has yet to hire a permanent replacement as Director of the Office of Cannabis Management.
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The council argues that the HERC must be closed to comply with the city’s zero waste policy, which was passed back in 2017.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a plan to shut down the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) on Thursday.
The resolution comes after decades of protests against the massive North Loop trash incinerator that burns roughly 365,000 tons of garbage a year.
“Today is a big step towards protecting the health of our communities and addressing longstanding environmental injustices that disproportionately impact communities of color,” said councilmember Robin Wonsley, in a statement.
The resolution calls for the incinerator to be permanently closed by Dec 31, 2027 and for the entire facility to be shut down by Dec 31, 2033.
The council argues that the HERC must be closed to comply with the city’s zero waste policy, which was passed back in 2017.
In October 2023, the Hennepin County Board signed off on a plan to close the HERC between 2028 and 2040, depending on how quickly the county can transition into a zero-waste system.
Of the garbage burned at the HERC, 75% comes from the city of Minneapolis. The other 25% comes from a dozen other cities in the area. The HERC produces enough energy to power more than 25,000 homes and half the buildings in downtown Minneapolis.
At a City Council Meeting on Oct. 10, Jenni Lansing with the City of Minneapolis Health Department provided analysis on the air pollution impacts of HERC. She said the health department supports working towards a zero-waste future and the ultimate closure of HERC, but said closing it now is not the solution.
“Overall emissions in Hennepin County are dominated by on-road and non-road, mobile and nonpoint sources, and these sources drive the cancer and non-cancer risks to health in Minneapolis,” Lansing said.
Hennepin County defines zero waste as preventing 90% or more of all discarded materials from being landfilled or incinerated.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The snow is really coming down in some places with Maple Lake getting 3.5″ so far.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — The wettest Halloween storm ever — is making mischief before little trick-or-treaters hit their neighborhood’s slushy streets.
Officials are reporting several power outages and car spin-outs.
There have been over 14,000 power outages, according to Xcel Energy.
The Minnesota State Patrol has responded to 169 crashes and 94 vehicles off the road, as of 2. pm. Thursday.
Meteorologist Beny Dery said an additional 1 to 2″ of snow is possible before things taper off this evening.
So far some of the totals around town are: 3.5″ Maple Lake, 3.0″ Buffalo, 2.5″ Dassel, 2.4″ Windom, 2.0″ St. Bonifacious, 1.5″ Maple Plain and 1.5″ in Bethel.
The snow is expected to let up from west to east and should wrap up for the metro between 5 to 6 p.m.
Last week, prosecutors charged John Sawchak with attempted 2nd-degree murder and other felony charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor Davis Moturi.
MINNEAPOLIS — Following the shooting between two neighbors, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to request that the city’s auditor conduct an independent investigation into the incidents and cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak.
Moturi was allegedly shot by his neighbor, Sawchak, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 but Minneapolis police did not arrest Sawchak until days later.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended not arresting Sawchak sooner, calling it a “high-risk” situation. O’Hara later said the victim, who had complained about harassment from Sawchak for months, was failed by police. Sawchak was arrested this past weekend after an hours-long standoff.
Moturi suffered a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion in the shooting. “Mr. Moturi’s life matters and I’m sorry that for nearly a year, MPD did not treat it like it did,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley in a news release, “Today’s vote affirms that the City Council is committed to taking meaningful actions towards accountability and restoration, starting with this independent review.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement:
“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow. The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community. Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”
