Early Tuesday morning, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission “accepted the findings of their lawyers and investigative staff and dismissed the ethics complaint filed against” Cranston Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins for nepotism.

According to Hopkins, the original ethics complaint was filed “by a political opponent regarding the hiring and later promotion of my son-in-law to the Cranston Fire Department.”

“As I said in April when this regretfully started, I had no role in his hiring or promotion,” Hopkins said in a statement issued early Tuesday, immediately following the Ethics Commission’s unanimous vote. “The end of this investigation today supports that statement in its prompt review and dismissal. Multiple interviews were conducted with former and current municipal officials and employees, many documents and records were reviewed by the Ethics Commission as part of a thorough, careful and independent review of the facts and applicable laws and regulations. No evidence was found that I exercised any influence or authority over the hiring or promotion of my son-in-law.”

Hopkins is running for a second term in a primary election against Cranston State Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung (R-Dist. 15, Cranston), the wife of former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung (the winner is expected to face Democratic candidate Robert Ferri).

According to Hopkins’s campaign staff, Ethics Commission “investigators determined that I did not participate in administering, proctoring or scoring the written examinations that were electronically scanned and graded.”

“They confirmed that I was not involved in overseeing or directing the physical agility examinations or the oral board interviews, nor did I review the results or have input into the Fire Chief’s selections,” Hopkins said. “Lastly, they said I was not involved in my son-in law’s probationary period evaluations. I am not and have never been involved in the hiring/selection process for firefighters. I leave those functions to the city’s personnel department and our fire department leadership in accordance with the City Charter. I am grateful that the Ethics Commission found that there was no probable cause basis to pursue this matter further.”

In a press release, Fenton-Fung released new nepotism accusations Monday, accusing Hopkins of “helping his family and those they love get taxpayer funded positions once again.”

“Thanks to fed-up whistleblowers inside the Cranston Police Department, we come to find out that Ken Hopkins has hired his nephew’s long time significant other for the position of police radio dispatcher, despite her handing in her application two days after May 7 deadline,” according to the Fenton-Fung campaign.

Hopkins campaign said they can provide proof to contrary, and plan to do so over the next week.

“First he hired his son-in-law, whom he lives with, to the fire department — and then later promoted him,” Fenton-Fung said in the press release. “Then it was his son, Ken Hopkins Jr., who became the Executive Director at the Cranston Career Tech under very suspicious circumstances. Now, Ken Hopkins is at it again helping his family and those they love get taxpayer funded positions.”

Fenton-Fung did not reply to a request for comment after the Ethics Commission rejected her campaign’s earlier nepotism complaint.

“Ken Hopkins’s arrogance and ability to thumb his nose at the rules of ethics while currently being under investigation is mind blowing,” Fenton-Fung said in a statement. “He is focused on enriching himself and his family on the taxpayer’s dime.  Enough is enough – it’s time for him to go!”

Following Tuesday morning’s Ethics Commission meeting, Hopkins defended his reputation and family.

“While I am pleased that this matter has been favorably resolved before the Ethics Commission, I am troubled by the undeserved attack on my family, our good name and my reputation,” he said. “The filing of this ethics complaint by John Psilopoulos was an unwarranted attempt to besmirch me and my family. Shame on him as he clearly was acting as a political tool for my primary opponent and her husband, for whom Psilopoulos worked for when he was mayor.”

According to the Hopkins campaign, Psilopoulos essentially filed the complaint on behalf of Fenton-Fung.

“I chose not to retain him when I took office, so I have no doubt he engaged in this failed and reckless political strike for my opponent,” Hopkins said. “His allegiance to her was further revealed last week on her submitted nomination papers showing his signature in support.”

Hopkins’s campaign shared a scan of Fenton-Fung’s nomination papers.

“Mrs. Fenton-Fung has been spouting about ethics since her announcement last year and she continues to try and prop up her lagging campaign with lies and falsehoods and attacks on my family,” Hopkins said. “Beyond my son-in-law, she tried to malign my other children and family members who have dedicated themselves to the teaching profession. They earned their teaching positions and dedicated careers in education on their own merit. They could have sought positions in any other municipality, but they sought positions in Cranston, because the Hopkins family is dedicated to this community and has been long before, I was fortunate to become Mayor. I am not and have never been involved in school department hirings.”

Hopkins called Fenton-Fung’s accusations “groundless” and said they “have backfired.”

“My opponent owes my family an apology,” Hopkins said Tuesday. “More importantly she owes our dedicated fire department members and its leadership an apology for undeservedly placing a cloud over the well-established and professional hiring and promotion procedures utilized to hire the best candidates to protect our citizens and properties.”

Following the Ethics Commission decision, Fenton-Fung released a statement, but no apology: "Rhode Island's reputation for insider politicians acting badly and getting away with it just got served another punch in the gut with this erroneous decision that ignores that the Mayor is the appointing authority. This decision issued behind closed doors opens the floodgates for mayors and other government officials around the state to start hiring their children and family members with not a concern in the world or even getting an ethics opinion at the forefront. While this decision will not spur reform in the state today, Cranstonians still have the opportunity to reject such insider deals at the polls this September. Between the hiring of his son-in-law at Cranston Fire, his son through suspicious circumstances at the school department, and now his nephew's significant other at the Cranston Police department, Cranstonians can see through the smoke filled back room deals. We cannot continue with the old school way of doing business - as Ken Hopkins so infamously does."