The state's second-highest-ranking forestry official, Mike Shaw, was fired for having a sexual relationship with a subordinate

The Oregon Department of Forestry has fired its second-most senior manager, Deputy State Forester Mike Shaw.

Documents WW A public records request shows that Shaw's boss, state forester Cal Mukumoto, fired Shaw on Oct. 31 following an investigation into an affair involving Shaw with a female ODF subordinate.

This is a very different explanation than many observers expected. In the last few weeks WW And The Oregonian have reported on upheavals within the ODF, some related to the agency's diversity, equity and inclusion policies. This reporting led to speculation on the Internet and in right-wing publications such as New York Post and the United Kingdom Daily Mailthat Shaw was scapegoated for not toeing the line on DEI. (WW initially reported that Shaw had been placed on administrative leave for unknown reasons.)

Related: State provides more information on suspension of deputy director in Forest Department

“A high-ranking Oregon state official was placed on leave after a pink-haired, DEI-obsessed subordinate complained that he was making hiring decisions based on qualifications rather than personal identity considerations,” a report said post reported on October 14th.

But an investigation report was published WW on the afternoon of November 4th shows a very different explanation for Shaw's suspension.

“During his interview (with state investigators), Mike Shaw admitted to having a sexual relationship with (name redacted by state) from spring 2022 to summer 2024,” the report said. “Shaw admitted to going to (the woman’s) home three to four times, and she came to his hotel or apartment in Salem too many times to count. Mike Shaw also admitted physical contact between him and (the woman) on ODF buildings/government property.”

The investigation found that Shaw, whose annual salary was $192,000, regularly communicated with the woman outside of work hours via Microsoft Teams on his state computer; that within a month they exchanged 92 calls lasting 1012 minutes; and that “hundreds of memes were recovered from Mike Shaw’s work phone, 94 of which were sexually explicit.”

Shaw “admitted it was wrong to have a sexual relationship with (the woman)” but told investigators he felt he couldn't end the relationship because “it would ruin his career or his family, if she told his wife.”

Investigators also found that when a woman he supervised was placed on leave during an “unrelated investigation,” Shaw ignored instructions from the ODF human resources manager to have a “corrective interview” with the woman. “It appears that Mike did nothing to engage with the investigation or actually inquire about the results,” the report said.

The report also states that he did not disclose his affair. “Shaw admitted not completing the agency’s conflict of interest form outlining his personal relationship with (the woman).”

Shaw could not be reached for comment.