OFF THE WIRE
Convicted felons, gang members and Governor Gregoire - It's not the opening to a bad joke. It was the reality inside a Capitol conference room last week for a bill signing.
One of the bills on the Governor's desk last week prevents the police from profiling motorcycle riders just because they're flying colors or logos. Bill sponsor Senator Jim Hargrove, an avid biker, even sported his leather vest and do-rag for the celebration.
But as Governor Gregoire signed the bill into law, she was flanked by members of some of the Northwest's most notorious biker gangs, the Banditos and the Outsiders.
Police sources identified several of the bikers sporting their gang colors as convicted felons and even a biker who killed a Portland Police officer in 1979. They were all within feet of Governor Gregoire.
The Governor's Office told Mynorthwest.com it had no idea who was in the room, and the governor did not invite any of the people who attended the signing.
Senator Hargrove's office told us he invited two people but neither were flying colors or are known gang-members.
Bill signings are open to the public. Anyone can attend. The Washington State Patrol would not discuss the Governor's security detail or how it monitors the people who attend the signings.
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=466405
