Legislative panel considers investigating handling of Lewiston, Maine mass shooting victims fund

The Maine Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee is looking into whether it has the authority to investigate how funds collected for victims of Lewiston’s mass shooting in 2023 were distributed.

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The issue was addressed Wednesday morning at a committee hearing where members discussed whether the investigative program they oversee — the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability — has the authority to look into such matters.

At issue is nearly $7 million raised by the Maine Community Foundation to help 162 people impacted by the mass shooting in Lewiston on Oct. 25, 2023. A year ago, Maine Senate Republicans called for an investigation into the foundation’s handling and distribution of those funds.

Some survivors, family members and others effected by the two shootings that day have called for more transparency in the matter.