"It may well have not involved him directly, but I would wager that early in life he was warned that the persons one surrounds themselves with, or direct associates, will have a bearing on their reputation or how others perceive them to be."

This is the classic McCarthyism tactic of guilt by association that you are describing here.   Do you not realize how many lives were wrecked during the 1950's in our nation, due to people being labeled communists and traitors simply due to guilt by association??

Yes, I agree that his girlfriend is a very shady person.   If you look into her personal history, you see a pattern of her using men, especially older men, for her own benefit.  But, my goodness, this was simply a man seduced by an attractive woman over 20 years his junior.  Lots of older men have been taken advantage of by young Gold diggers.

These suspicions against Kitzhaber are all smoke and mirrors.  13 months, and still not one single charge, not even against his girlfriend.