Oregon Public Broadcasting

An Oregon state senator with a history of controversy is now reportedly under investigation by the FBI.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman has more.

Betsy Johnson represents a largely rural district northwest of Portland.  According to the Oregonian newspaper, the FBI is currently investigating the Democrat for undisclosed reasons.

The FBI office in Portland wouldn’t confirm the report.  A spokesperson there says generally the FBI is brought in for federal investigations, or at the request of the state.

Last year Johnson was fined by the Oregon Ethics Commission for failing to report a real estate deal involving land next to a state-owned airport.

The head of the ethics  commission says the FBI has not contacted him about any current investigation regarding Johnson.

Johnson does have her share of supporters.  In 2006 she easily won re-election to a second term in the state Senate. And she holds a seat on the legislature’s powerful budget writing committee.