New oversight committee leader backs off 38 Studios probe

serpa

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The new chairwoman of an oversight committee in the Rhode Island House of Representatives says she’s no longer going to spend lawmakers’ time digging into the 38 Studios debacle.

Rep. Patricia Serpa tells the Providence Journal she’s pivoting the work of the committee to delve into the budget and the substance of government.

The West Warwick Democrat was appointed to lead the committee last week. She replaces Cumberland Rep. Karen MacBeth, who lost her leadership position after she switched political parties from Democrat to Republican.

MacBeth had used the committee to unearth documents and investigate the missteps that led to the state’s disastrous $75 million deal with 38 Studios, the failed video game company founded by former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. Schilling ignored the committee’s subpoena.

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