Post by Logan on May 6, 2016 22:25:27 GMT -6
Ethics commission reverses course, agrees to investigate complaint against Schaefer
The Missouri Ethics Commission will investigate whether state Sen. Kurt Schaefer misused his office to pressure the University of Missouri over employee leave policies to block rival Josh Hawley from entering the race for attorney general.
Executive Director James Klahr reversed an earlier decision that his agency did not have the power or resources to investigate allegations of criminal conduct. In a letter to Matt Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney from Iowa who founded the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, Klahr wrote that a resubmitted complaint included compelling arguments that the commission has the authority and had used it in the past.
“Based on our consideration of the legal arguments made in the May 2, 2016 letter regarding the commission’s jurisdiction to receive and investigate the complaint, the commission will be opening an investigation into your complaint,” Klahr wrote in a letter dated Thursday and released by Kendra Arnold, general counsel for the foundation. The foundation is a not-for-profit organization that claims to promote accountability, ethics and transparency in government and public life.
Commission members and staff are prohibited by state law from discussing pending investigations, Klahr wrote in an email. He declined to comment on the foundation’s disclosure of his letter.
Read more: www.columbiatribune.com/news/politics/elections/ethics-commission-reverses-course-agrees-to-investigate-complaint-against-schaefer/article_bd0da0fa-be85-5c98-9ac6-e4f38e0c9ba1.html
The Missouri Ethics Commission will investigate whether state Sen. Kurt Schaefer misused his office to pressure the University of Missouri over employee leave policies to block rival Josh Hawley from entering the race for attorney general.
Executive Director James Klahr reversed an earlier decision that his agency did not have the power or resources to investigate allegations of criminal conduct. In a letter to Matt Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney from Iowa who founded the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, Klahr wrote that a resubmitted complaint included compelling arguments that the commission has the authority and had used it in the past.
“Based on our consideration of the legal arguments made in the May 2, 2016 letter regarding the commission’s jurisdiction to receive and investigate the complaint, the commission will be opening an investigation into your complaint,” Klahr wrote in a letter dated Thursday and released by Kendra Arnold, general counsel for the foundation. The foundation is a not-for-profit organization that claims to promote accountability, ethics and transparency in government and public life.
Commission members and staff are prohibited by state law from discussing pending investigations, Klahr wrote in an email. He declined to comment on the foundation’s disclosure of his letter.
Read more: www.columbiatribune.com/news/politics/elections/ethics-commission-reverses-course-agrees-to-investigate-complaint-against-schaefer/article_bd0da0fa-be85-5c98-9ac6-e4f38e0c9ba1.html