JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Auditor Nicole Galloway still wants answers concerning the use of public money to defend Gov. Eric Greitens’ office.
Last week, the Auditor requested information about the use of private attorneys in a letter to Lucinda Luetkemeyer, the state’s attorney working in the Governor’s Office.
That was followed by a letter from Attorney General Josh Hawley, who stated that he did not believe the Governor’s Office had legal authority to hire any outside private counsel, which prompted Galloway’s investigation to take a new turn; she sent letters to the Office of Administration and the State Treasurer, the ones responsible for processing and paying state expenses.
The State Treasurer’s office responded, saying they were unaware of any payments made to the persons mentioned by the auditor’s request.
“Based on the recent response, it appears that when the State Treasurer signs checks, the office merely accepts the paperwork and issues the payment with very limited review. As such, the Office of Administration needs to take seriously these concerns about the appropriateness of using public resources to represent the Governor in disciplinary action before the legislature,” Galloway said in a statement on Tuesday. “I continue to have questions about the use of taxpayer dollars to pay these private attorneys and will pursue answers. It is my duty under the law to thoroughly review and investigate reports of improper governmental activities. I will not be deterred from doing my job, as I have clearly shown in the past when the Governor’s administration has attempted to obstruct my efforts to get answers.”
In addition to that, Galloway has requested more documents in that regard, sending a second letter asking for information and documents relating to the cost, budgeting and funding source to pay those attorneys.
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Benjamin Peters was a reporter for The Missouri Times and Missouri Times Magazine and also produced the #MoLeg Podcast. He joined The Missouri Times in 2016 after working as a sports editor and TV news producer in mid-Missouri. Benjamin is a graduate of Missouri State University in Springfield.
