A bipartisan group of state senators announced on Thursday they are calling for Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to resign after he allegedly fired a whistleblower who came forward with “allegations of abusive and inappropriate workplace behaviors.”

“The claims of inappropriate workplace conduct were disturbing on their own and called into question Commissioner Kreidler’s ability to effectively lead his office,” said Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia. “But firing a whistleblower is completely unacceptable, and quite frankly, the final straw.”

In the statement, Braun said elected officials have a responsibility to create a respectful workplace and that staff “should be rewarded” when they are “brave enough to speak up when they witness illegal or unethical behavior” rather than being fired.

Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, the chair of the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade (BFST) Committee, said it was clearly grounds for removal.

“Firing a whistleblower? Commissioner Kreidler needs to resign immediately and allow someone else to go to work restoring the integrity of this important agency,” Mullet said. “To be honest, I’m disturbed by this but not at all surprised. This is consistent with the behavior he’s shown over the past couple of years in his dealings with the Legislature and with stakeholders. Now he’s placing himself above the ethics rules of his own agency and firing the whistleblower who called him out on his actions.”...

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