Gov. Inslee suggests to reporter they ‘go out in the alleyway’

Governor Jay Inslee was annoyed by a reporter’s question on Wednesday and suggested the pair “go out in the alleyway.”

The Seattle Times reports that John Stang, a reporter with Crosscut, asked the governor why he hasn’t demanded a face-to-face meeting with embattled State Auditor Troy Kelley.

“Isn’t that sort of weak?” Stang asked Inslee.

“No, John, it isn’t weak, and you and I have to go out in the alleyway and decide who is weak on this,” Inslee replied. “You’ve hit my hot button on that.”

The pair did not actually settle the matter in the alleyway, according to the Times. In fact, Inslee shook hands with Stang after the news conference.

In answer to the question, Inslee said his office has received answers to some questions of Kelley, but he doesn’t have the ability to “act as a prosecuting attorney.”

Kelley’s home was searched by federal agents last month and his office turned over records to a federal grand jury which has been asking questions about his former escrow-services business.

Kelley has refused to discuss the investigation publicly.