Sen. Mark Miloscia, R-Federal Way, invited embattled state Auditor Troy Kelley to testify about a federal criminal investigation regarding Kelley’s business dealings.

Miloscia asked Kelley in a letter to testify on Wednesday, April 1 before the Senate Accountability and Reform Committee that the legislator serves on.

Miloscia, who ran unsuccessfully for the state auditor position in 2012, wrote:

“Several federal agencies have initiated apparent criminal and ethical investigations that involve your conduct as state auditor. To date, I’m aware of a U.S. Treasury Department search of your home, a Justice Department subpoena on your official state office and federal agents seeking personal information regarding you from multiple state agencies.

“These inquiries appear to connect you, your current and former offices and employees that have worked for you at the SAO and in private capacities. Normally, I would request that the SAO investigate and provide guidance to the Legislature about how to move forward in dealing with issues like future audits, but that would not be appropriate in this case.

As auditor, you were elected to serve as Washington’s guardian of accountability and fraud prevention. Lawmakers and citizens rely on the auditor to inform us of how our state programs are performing. The reports of federal investigations centered on you and your business dealings raise questions about the public’s trust in your ability to carry out this role effectively.

“Your refusal to respond to these reports publicly has done little to ease these concerns and casts doubt on your leadership and management of the state auditor’s office and its function as the independent agency responsible for accountability. These concerns must be addressed so that the Legislature can decide the appropriate policy and budget needs of the state auditor’s office.

“It is important for you to address these matters personally, in public testimony. I agree with the governor’s request for full disclosure of this matter and expect that you will be forthcoming with testimony on how you intend to manage your agency in light of an ongoing federal investigation.

“The Senate Accountability and Reform Committee is planning to hold a work session on what various agencies are achieving regarding fraud and accountability. I hope your comments will add to the discussion, resolve the public’s and legislators’ concerns and assist us in our policy and budget decisions for your agency.”