Mark Pedroli, Esq @MarkPedroli
Police cars revolving lightFormer Missouri Senator John Danforth filed a brief describing current Attorney General @Eric_Schmitt’s case to overturn the election as “jiggery-pokery,” which means deceitful or dishonest.
Jack Danforth (r) and his republican friends think the Texas suit against the election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin is a really bad idea. From the Amicusbrief:
…the Constitution does not make this Court the multidistrict litigation panel for trials of presidential election disputes…
…Plaintiff’s Motions make a mockery of federalism and separation of powers. It would violate the most fundamental constitutional principles for this Court to serve as the trial court for presidential election disputes…
…Plaintiff raises the unprecedented assertion, contrary to 230 years of history, that a presidential election dispute is, under 28 U.S.C. §1251(a), a “controvers[y] between two or more States.” Brief in Support of Mot. For Leave to File Bill of Complaint, at 7-8. This jiggery-pokery is contradicted by the Electors Clause and 3 U.S.C. § 5…
Associate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia [2008 file photo].
One former AG who can’t comprehend constitutional law patting another AG who can’t comprehend constitutional law on the back. Party first, right Josh? Missouri continues to be embarrassed.
Ladder buddies!
And there goes all that good will out the window w one stupid tweet undermining democracy by supporting these frivolous lawsuits. If the Dems were doing this Josh would be up in arms!
In summary, Republicans want to make it as hard and time consuming as possible to vote. If you do vote and they don’t like the result, they want to throw your vote out. And they are against judicial activism and federal control except when it benefits their political interests.
Why not go over all the states with a fine toothed comb? Perhaps some of the states that Trump won weren’t won with integrity. Let’s start with KY and then FL. Let’s go over some of these Senate elections. I’m all for it.
This would be a farce if it weren’t so damaging to our country. I’m disgusted but not surprised by you being on board. This is against everything our country is supposed to stand for
No, it’s not good work. He’s wasting Missouri tax dollars on a frivolous and symbolic effort. Everyone knows this is about the GOP not liking the outcome and has nothing to do with voter fraud. You’d be apoplectic if, for example, California sued over Missouri’s votes.
Is this the only way Republicans can stay in power? Making it harder for people to vote? How treasonous.
There is no quiet part. Trump is openly and proudly fighting to OVERTURN the will of the voters and democracy itself.
And the vast majority, aka GOP dinosaurs, of his party stand by him. Also include @RepHartzler @RoyBlunt, but you already knew this.
Roy Blunt (r) [2016 file photo].
Who the fuck is Roy blunt? Has he ever been to Missouri?
He’s wasting our taxpayers’ $$$!!!! That’s not good work, Senator.
You’re so thirsty, bro.
“The most dangerous place to stand in Washington D.C. is any place between Senator Josh Hawley and a live microphone” – Charles P. Pierce
Remember when Schmitt sued China? @HawleyMO was right behind him on that one too.
BREAKING: states’ rights champion Senator HeeHaw now says “f-ck states’ rights!”
Your footnote in history books will be short and ridiculous.
Narrator, in the future: “Who?”
What footnotes? No one will know his name in Missouri..
His next door neighbors in Virginia will.
This is pandering at best.
Here’s hoping for another one sentence rejection by SCOTUS
What a waste of taxpayer money.
One grifter congratulates another.
Spoken like a true Fascist.
The only credible evidence of fraud in the election is the vote of the junior Missouri senator who actually lives in Virginia and hasn’t actually maintained a residence in Missouri.
We see what you did there.
all theater. nothing will change. the republic is over.
Senator, you’re embarrassing yourself, hurting Missouri and our country with this, uh, manure.
No, rejecting the results of an election based on being a sore loser and calling for unconstitutional interference between states is the exact opposite of “Good work”.
You really do hate your country, don’t you?
Why don’t you believe in democracy? You’re not a conservative with this behavior, you’re an authoritarian wanting one party rule voters be damned.
Mr. Harvard Law Man, have you not learned anything?
What role is Missouri supposed to have in ensuring election integrity in Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania?
And would California’s AG have an equal role in ensuring Missouri’s election integrity if he thought there was fraud here?
Why? What benefit will Missourians see? Constitution give states power to run their own elections. Seems like this will waste Missourians tax dollars on ill fated political agenda. Why only states Biden won? If you truly care about integrity, wouldn’t you question red states too?
Why are other state issues a matter for Texas? You know the state that champions statehood rights. Really. It’s a serious question. Anybody have an answer?
I too love watching my hard-earned tax dollars being pissed away on frivolous nonsense that does nothing more than line the pockets of rich, sleazy lawyers.
Aren’t you too busy suing China? How’s that one going?
Just take the L, Eric.
It’s hard to do, but you’re embarrassing Missouri even more with your participation.
In terms that a right wingnut Missouri Attorney General might understand:
He’s not, sorry. There’s nothing unconstitutional about absentee voting. Several states vote exclusively by mail.
This new lawsuit is like calling the superintendent at a district you don’t live in and being mad about how they run their football program.
Pure crazy.
This is embarrassing.
I predict this is a folly you will definitely regret.
Really? This is silliness.
I hope California sues Texas for voter suppression!
Let’s have all the states sue each other for how they run their elections.
Always fun to watch someone embarrass themselves.
That assumes a lot.
When do we get to throw out the Missouri election results? Because the people who won are absolutely nuts and Missourians deserve better leadership than this.
Oh great. Another complete waste of tax dollars. Fantastic.
You’re wasting time and resources on this shit?
You sound so thirsty buddy. Just ask @HawleyMO to borrow one of his ladders
We see what you did there.
The TX ag is fishing for a much needed pardon. What are you after
There is that.
This is what it must it felt like to be alive in 1776 America.
We’re in the Fight, Patriots ALL THE WAY!
Actually, more like Gemany in the 1930s.
Lol Texas attorney general is being investigated he is desperate The press should do a deep dive on you dude.
There is that.
And how’s the China lawsuit going General Showboat?
So how’s that lawsuit against China going?
Please stop.
SCOTUS won’t hear it. The lawsuit is a joke.
Oh for pity’s sake.
[….]
…Ken Paxton, the TX AG that filed suit against GA, MI, PA, and WI has been indicted on felony securities fraud charges and is CURRENTLY under FBI investigation for abuse of political power.
This is not a lawsuit. This is a request for a pardon.
…In a December 31, 2019, letter (Appendix I, page 435) in response to seeing a draft copy of this report, the AGO formally objected to the inclusion of interview transcripts in this report, and stated the inclusion of these transcripts would be a disclosure of audit working papers, and therefore, a felony violation of Chapter 29, RSMo. The SAO disagrees with this conclusion. Objections to the inclusion of interview transcripts and audit communications citing Chapter 29, RSMo, are without merit. The confidentiality provisions of Chapter 29 are intended to protect the SAO’s working papers from public disclosure. The interpretation that those confidentiality provisions are intended to keep the SAO from disclosing information obtained during the course of the audit is at odds with Chapter 29, RSMo, and Yellow Book requirements, which both require a report of information obtained during an audit be made public. In addition, the statement that the inclusion of working papers as appendices to a public report is unprecedented is not accurate. Including information obtained during an audit as appendices is very common and not unique to this administration. Appendices have been part of audit reports issued by the SAO for decades…
This evening Josh Hawley (r) again took to Twitter:
Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
Don’t think @nicolergalloway attacks on me & other Republicans are 100% political? Now she’s fundraising off of audits! Is it too much to ask that she just do her job – and quit using her office to campaign? #mogov #moleg
[….] 4:46 PM · Feb 9, 2020
Let’s see: projection, chutzpah, entitlement, lack of self awareness, ladder climbing… That’s a lot to pack into one Tweet.
Of course, there is much hilarity in the responses:
I guess you shouldn’t have given her the ammo now, shouldn’t you? The only one you have to blame is yourself. Stand up and take it like a man.
Projecting. Like Trump.
One word, projection!
These ppl weaponize everything against Republicans..the IRS, the FBI, the FISA Courts. They are truly totalitarian
What a friend they have in Putin.
“Россия” (Russia) – a variant of the Russian presidential flag.
Didn’t you do THE SAME DAMN THING??…Oh wait yes you did and her audit showed it
You’re the worst, Josh
She must be getting close to the target to have so many tweets from you. Also don’t use any of your ‘achievements’ when you attempt to run for office again.
Golden coming from you #senatorflatbed
The Ivy League vision of a flatbed truck.
You didn’t do your job…..you swore to uphold the Constitution and yet you voted to acquit the most corrupt, immoral President in the history of the US.
We will not forget.
You used your office and staff to campaign. Get off your high horse, little Josh. It’s tiring.
‘do her job and quit using her office to campaign’???? That is rich coming from you.
Why Senator!
You seem worried.
#iStandByFBI
Why don’t you worry about serving the people of the state you really don’t represent well?
You have lost all of your credibility and any respect that I may have had for you. It sounds like it isn’t just me either.
You did
VP of trump water carriers. Speaking of doing your job, did you forget your office? When are you gonna come back and face your constituents? You’re a joke.
Lol, you outsourced the AG job while you campaigned for Senate! You are perfect for Trumpian times, a shameless liar and hypocrite. You still don’t want us to have healthcare, even as you lied about it. Weasel.
No one want to listen to your BS anymore. We have no respect for you. We would actually prefer you resign.
You seem like the type that has gotten into a heated argument over FaceTime, only to find out your selfie cam was on. You’re a hypocrite. Resign.
You must be kidding. You never really did your job in MO. Went to the gym and then started campaigning for senate. At least she can point to actual completed tasks
Ouch. That one left a mark.
Dude..you are a political hack extraordinaire. Very recently out took an oath to God and trashed it. You lustily cheered the medaling of a racist and said nothing when a war hero was jackbooted out of the White House! I think the natives call this “speaking with a forked tongue”.
Let’s see… how did Josh get elected Senator? He fundraised off his BS record as AG.
You belong with Trump. You’re both full of shit.
Lol you have to be kidding….what the heck did you do even after you said you weren’t interested in a senatorial position you are such a liar wow
Current Senator and former-Attorney General Josh Hawley (r) is publicly whining about an audit released on Thursday about a portion of Hawley’s (r) short tenure as Missouri Attorney General.
…In a December 31, 2019, letter (Appendix I, page 435) in response to seeing a draft copy of this report, the AGO formally objected to the inclusion of interview transcripts in this report, and stated the inclusion of these transcripts would be a disclosure of audit working papers, and therefore, a felony violation of Chapter 29, RSMo. The SAO disagrees with this conclusion. Objections to the inclusion of interview transcripts and audit communications citing Chapter 29, RSMo, are without merit. The confidentiality provisions of Chapter 29 are intended to protect the SAO’s working papers from public disclosure. The interpretation that those confidentiality provisions are intended to keep the SAO from disclosing information obtained during the course of the audit is at odds with Chapter 29, RSMo, and Yellow Book requirements, which both require a report of information obtained during an audit be made public. In addition, the statement that the inclusion of working papers as appendices to a public report is unprecedented is not accurate. Including information obtained during an audit as appendices is very common and not unique to this administration. Appendices have been part of audit reports issued by the SAO for decades…
Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].
Yesterday afternoon, from Josh Hawley (r):
Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
Hey liberal dark money group, you forgot to mention @clairecmc is on your board! But thx for reminding everyone that this attack was Democrat sleaze from Day 1. Now disproven TWICE by two separate reviews. But your Dem auditor is now under investigation for a FELONY. Good luck
[….] 1:34 PM · Feb 8, 2020
Nervous?
You know, all-caps on the Internet is the equivalent of hysterical shouting or the wit and wisdom of someone in junior high school. So, which is it?
The Ivy League vision of a flatbed truck.
Claire McCaskill still makes you nervous, eh. She did say, “…Now I know he went to Yale, I think, or Harvard, one of those, one of those fancy ones…” Maybe you should ask for your tuition money back.
There was much hilarity in the responses:
Dark money is terrible. Josh, where’s your bill to end it?
Senator Hawley, Missourians would appreciate your support in ending dark money.
Will you sign the petition to support House Bill 1981, the End Dark Money Act?
Psst…he won’t.
So now fighting for Ethical behavior is “Dark” to Republicans?!?
Good to put that out in the Open there Josh!
Evan McMullin is also on the board of CREW (Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington). He served as a policy for the House Republican Conference in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was Republican right up until the point the Republican Party lost their minds.
What the hell happened to “Ending the cycle of bitterness” you were talking about earlier this week?
Uh, that was just talk, until he got nervous? Just spitballing here.
The alleged felony is that the auditor went ahead and released the report on Hawley’s malfeasance, even though Hawley’s equally corrupt successor as AG claimed it was somehow privileged or confidential. Two things Republicans excel at are committing crimes and covering them up.
Have fun, but know this: Republicans are united and EMPOWERED. We’re fighting back and exposing the corruption, and the slander used to cover it up.
It used to be so easy, didn’t it?
Not anymore. Enjoy the next 12 years with a Republican President.
Well, okay?
Funny how ethics is also a bad thing for Republicans. You didn’t want witnesses or documents in a trial and now you really want no oversight or ethics?
Way to take the “Show Me” out of our state motto.
We want leadership for Missouri not lawless servitude. #resign
After distracting from Trump’s illegal impounding and election interference with calls for irrelevant witnesses, the “Constitutional Conservative” proceeds to distract from his ethical issues with fallacious ad hominem attacks.
No respect for law, Constitution, or logic.
Actually, he calls himself a “constitutional lawyer” or something like that. “…Now I know he went to Yale, I think, or Harvard, one of those, one of those fancy ones…”
Dark money, you say? Well, pray tell where was your dark money concerns when you were AG and Greitens and of his dark money shenanigans were in charge? You’re a disgrace.
I read the article and it said it’s hard to tell what you did because you used a private email server. What do we know about people who use private email servers?
The great thing about audits is that they are not partisan. Numbers don’t lie like republicans do.
Facts matter, tho’. You used out of state political consultants to raise your profile in MO. You and your staff used private email and messaging. You used state resources for political purposes. You’re just mad you got called out and caught using GOP dirty tricks, sir.
Current Attorney General Eric Schmitt (r) and Senator and former-Attorney General Josh Hawley (r) are publicly whining about an audit released on Thursday about a portion of Hawley’s (r) short tenure as Missouri Attorney General.
…In a December 31, 2019, letter (Appendix I, page 435) in response to seeing a draft copy of this report, the AGO formally objected to the inclusion of interview transcripts in this report, and stated the inclusion of these transcripts would be a disclosure of audit working papers, and therefore, a felony violation of Chapter 29, RSMo. The SAO disagrees with this conclusion. Objections to the inclusion of interview transcripts and audit communications citing Chapter 29, RSMo, are without merit. The confidentiality provisions of Chapter 29 are intended to protect the SAO’s working papers from public disclosure. The interpretation that those confidentiality provisions are intended to keep the SAO from disclosing information obtained during the course of the audit is at odds with Chapter 29, RSMo, and Yellow Book requirements, which both require a report of information obtained during an audit be made public. In addition, the statement that the inclusion of working papers as appendices to a public report is unprecedented is not accurate. Including information obtained during an audit as appendices is very common and not unique to this administration. Appendices have been part of audit reports issued by the SAO for decades…
State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) [2019 file photo].
A statement, issued Thursday by the State Auditor’s Office in response to Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s (r) very public whining:
“Any criticism by Attorney General Schmitt regarding the laws that govern the State Auditor’s authority rings hollow. In 2013, then-Senator Schmitt voted in favor of expanding the authority of the Auditor’s Office to conduct investigations. Additionally, the Attorney General is currently prosecuting public corruption cases where we utilized this same authority to expose wrongdoing.
“Per Chapter 29, RSMo of Missouri Law, the State Auditor’s Office has the authority to disclose information in a public audit report, unless another provision of law specifically prohibits it. There is not any law that prohibits the disclosure of sworn testimony gathered in the course of an audit. ”
The 2013 legislation referenced above was House Bill 116.
From an audit of former Attorney General Josh Hawley (r), released yesterday by State Auditor Nicole Galloway’s (D) Office:
…In a December 31, 2019, letter (Appendix I, page 435) in response to seeing a draft copy of this report, the AGO formally objected to the inclusion of interview transcripts in this report, and stated the inclusion of these transcripts would be a disclosure of audit working papers, and therefore, a felony violation of Chapter 29, RSMo. The SAO disagrees with this conclusion. Objections to the inclusion of interview transcripts and audit communications citing Chapter 29, RSMo, are without merit. The confidentiality provisions of Chapter 29 are intended to protect the SAO’s working papers from public disclosure. The interpretation that those confidentiality provisions are intended to keep the SAO from disclosing information obtained during the course of the audit is at odds with Chapter 29, RSMo, and Yellow Book requirements, which both require a report of information obtained during an audit be made public. In addition, the statement that the inclusion of working papers as appendices to a public report is unprecedented is not accurate. Including information obtained during an audit as appendices is very common and not unique to this administration. Appendices have been part of audit reports issued by the SAO for decades…
Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].
Yesterday evening, from Josh Hawley (r):
Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
When you have to break the law to try to score political points, you know you’re desperate. Given the evidence of rampant political manipulation in her office, Galloway should recuse herself from all audits if she’s going to keep running for Governor #mogov #moleg
[….] 5:08 PM · Feb 6, 2020
Says the ladder climber.
“Evidence”? Since when has evidence been something Josh Hawley (r) cared about?
“The most dangerous place to stand in Washington D.C. is any place between Senator Josh Hawley and a live microphone” – Charles P. Pierce
As always, there was much hilarity in the responses:
Yeah Josh, speaking of breaking the law, where do you come down on Trump stealing money from his foundation, admitting guilt in a court of law, and being fined $2,000,000? Is that ok with you? If so, WTF did they teach you in law school?
Chutzpah.
Oh, lookit. Newly made man in the Trump Crime Syndicate has thoughts about ethics. You can take your thoughts about what Auditor Galloway should or shouldn’t do and stuff them. Republicans are just crazy, thinking that anyone believes anything they say anymore.
Please! You looked the other way at the rule of law when you acquitted your dear leader refused to allow evidence into the trial. Now you invoke it for your own political purposes. All I can say is that this isn’t surprising. You’re a hypocrite & we’re paying attention.
“When you have to break the law to try to score political points, you know you’re desperate” pretty much summarizes you and the rest of the GOP under Trump.
Shall we start calling you Josh the Desperate? Desperate Hawley?
Works for us.
I think you have already burned all your “rule of law” capital on the president’s get out of jail free card.
IOKIYAR*
* it’s okay if you’re a republican
Your complete lack of self awareness in the phrasing of this tweet is absolutely astounding!
It’s amazing, He does know the Head Grifter.
Dem corruption?? Freaking hilarious!
Remind me again How many Dem associates pled guilty or are serving/ have served/ will serve prison time??
Meanwhile at least 6 Trump associates have/will.
But please tell us all about the Dem corruption!
Lol. Nope, you can never allege political wrongdoing of another after letting Trump off.
isn’t that what you’ve been doing for the last 3 years? what a buffoon
No wonder you voted to acquit tRump. You’re made in the same mold as he is.
When I read the first sentence of your tweet, Senator Thirsty, I thought somehow a conscience has emerged and you regretted your vote for a corrupt acquittal of Trump.
I see it’s just leftover flyover-state corruption baggage that isn’t resolved.
Carry on.
Typical Republican modus operandi. Break the law, get caught, claim partisanship!
“When you have to break the law to try to score political points, you know you’re desperate.”
That’s the truest thing you’ve ever said about Donald Trump.
Too much transparency for you?
So your buddy @GovParsonMO is nervous about the support Ms. Galloway is generating among voters here in MO?
Says the Sycophant Senator whose took dark money and literally had his staff using secret messaging while he “investigated” Greitens for doing the same.
You may be guilty……..so don’t LIE
Looking at cover ups on national level is embolding you to pursue same on state level. You’re as corrupt as your idol.
For some reason, Trump and get away with lying to people. I suggest you not try it. That’s actually friendly advice.
You’re an embarrassment to our state. We deserve better leaders.
*When I had to break the law to score a political position, you know I’m desperate.
There, I fixed it for you.
#showmeethics
You swore under oath that you would listen impartially to the house managers and yet you didn’t, so there’s that.
There’s that.
“The stew of high intellect and low principle is ghastly. “ Love that quote about you, so fitting.
You voted to acquit a criminal president despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, you are not allowed to pretend to have integrity, morals, honor or a backbone.
You voted for the presidency having absolute immunity.
Why did you vote for a King?
Seriously! You just voted to acquit a lawless president and you’re calling for Galloway to recuse herself. You covered for Greiten and his sleezy blackmail as you were climbing the ladder to your next position. I feel that you’re the desperate one, clutching on to Trump. #Corrupt
“When you have to break the laws to score political points, you know your desperate.”
Cool admission here, you corrupt hack.
Dude…you just voted to acquit President Trump for irrefutable facts that he attempted to coerce/bribe an ally by withholding military aid unless there was an announcement of an investigation. You are an embarrassment to our state, and I am optimistic you will end up I prison.
We don’t live in a just world.
You’d know a lot about selling your soul to score political points.
Stop telling us what Galloway’s audit says. Your version is unrecognizable. And we can read it for ourselves. We know what it says.
Bad faith Senator says what?
And on and on…
State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) [2016 file photo].
From an audit of former Attorney General Josh Hawley (r), released yesterday by State Auditor Nicole Galloway’s (D) Office:
…In a December 31, 2019, letter (Appendix I, page 435) in response to seeing a draft copy of this report, the AGO formally objected to the inclusion of interview transcripts in this report, and stated the inclusion of these transcripts would be a disclosure of audit working papers, and therefore, a felony violation of Chapter 29, RSMo. The SAO disagrees with this conclusion. Objections to the inclusion of interview transcripts and audit communications citing Chapter 29, RSMo, are without merit. The confidentiality provisions of Chapter 29 are intended to protect the SAO’s working papers from public disclosure. The interpretation that those confidentiality provisions are intended to keep the SAO from disclosing information obtained during the course of the audit is at odds with Chapter 29, RSMo, and Yellow Book requirements, which both require a report of information obtained during an audit be made public. In addition, the statement that the inclusion of working papers as appendices to a public report is unprecedented is not accurate. Including information obtained during an audit as appendices is very common and not unique to this administration. Appendices have been part of audit reports issued by the SAO for decades…
A portion of letter to the Attorney General’s Office from the State Auditor’s Office, the entire letter included in the released audit:
…Given the irreconcilable conflict created by your (1): taking a position against the authority of the State Auditor’s Office; (2) attempting to give legal advice and direct the audit of the Attorney General’s Office; and (3) communicating your position against the authority of this office to a third-party, the Attorney General’s Office cannot serve as attorney for this office in any case related to its core audit function…
State Auditor Nicole Galloway – [2017 file photo]
From a personal social media account of Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (r):
Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt
As the Chief Legal Officer of the state of Missouri – the AG’s Office has repeatedly expressed serious concerns about the political nature of @AuditorGalloway’s audit of fmr AG @HawleyMO’s Office & the unprecedented release of transcripts likely in violation of state law. #moleg 4:51 PM · Feb 6, 2020
Wait, one would think that the Attorney General of Missouri would use an official channel of his office, like say, a social media account under his name as Attorney General, to express a valid point law about an audit concerning his office.
So, the original Tweet on the personal account (and several following up) is, wait for it…political.
There is much hilarity in the responses to his short series of personal Tweets:
So the guy that ran the treasury is covering for the AG he replaced when the former AG went to the Senate after inappropriate use of campaign funds? I’d ask who’s running this shitshow, but it’s clearly the guy the current Senator just voted to acquit.
Maybe then-AG Hawley shouldn’t have committed ethics violations if he didn’t want a light shone on them.
She did her job. She follows the Sunshine law, unlike republicans who repeatedly use apps like Confide and taxpayer funds for political games.
Is it a violation or is it likely a violation? Because you started this tweet referring to yourself as the “Chief Legal Officer” of the state and you ended it seeming confused about the law.
With William Barr as the AG of the land, it becomes difficult to tell which AGs are trustworthy, and which ones aren’t.
I can’t tell if I should believe you or not, Eric Schmitt.
Nothing to say about the likely violation of state law by Hawley?
I’m sorry, but the entire GOP has forfeited any rights to moral outrage about other people *appearing* to break the law or behaving unthically. Under your party’s own rules as applied to Trump, she cannot be guilty of anything unless and until she fully confesses under oath.
So is subverting law enforcement to threaten political rivals just a thing all republicans do now?
You’re a joke
This is bull! So @AuditorGalloway could never send a forged check to a local prosecutor or include any meaningful factual detail in a final audit?? The law violation here is that the AGO’s office didn’t Mirandize these people before they were questioned about potential crimes
Bulllshit pal. Are u really trying to intimidate @nicolergalloway?! She’ll chew u up & spit u out. U know she’s a CPA? Those types are detailed oriented to a fault. I can assure u she did everything above board-including the audit which was requested by Ashcroft & req’d by law.
Hey as the “Chief Legal Officer” of the state who the fuck knows whether this was a violation of the law or not if it isn’t you?
This sounds like you slinging mud without having the fucking stones to charge her with a crime.
Put up or shut the fuck up.
In response to the previous comment:
Amen brother. Talk about playing politics and inappropriate public statements.
And, some of the subsequent responses to one of Eric Schmitt’s (r) additional Tweets on the subject:
Hawley covers for Greitens. Schmitt covers for Hawley. Republicans of a corrupt feather.
Ridiculous. @nicolergalloway has the highest level of integrity, and all you can whine about is confidentiality? This is the Show-Me State, buddy. Sounds like you’ve got a corruption problem, not a confidentiality problem.
Nah. Nicole has always gone after grift no matter where she finds it. Just so happens she found it in Joshy’s office.
Shocking, to find Republicans misbehaving. So out of character.
That last part was probably sarcasm.
Yea, so what are you going to do about it? Send a strongly worded letter and hope it doesn’t happen again? it’ easy to apologize if there are no consequences.
Nah, just fling crap against the wall from a personal social media account and hope (probably correctly) that old media will buy it. Suckers.
Government is not supposed to operate in secret. Ever heard of the Sunshine Law? You and your party are so afraid of sunshine, I’m beginning to think you are vampires. You share other traits of vampires too.
Eric we know you don’t give a crap if Hawley violated the law. Your phoney outrage is ridiculous. There are professional standards that CPA’s MUST follow and there have not been problems with her audits in the past. You are covering for Hawley Shame in you!
As a Missouri resident, if she broke the law, arrest her ass and throw it in the pokey!
Calling the bluff.
So basically you’re attempting to squash documents just like the sham impeachment trial?
We pay the bills in this state. I want to know who’s crooked and who’s not.
Even if it is the president’s ass kissing senator.
Not working buddy. You are dirty as hell and you should resign.
Harm because it exposed the frat boy? Typical republicans. Don’t do what’s right. Do what you can get away with. @HawleyMO @nicolergalloway
Good government? Really? You really went there after all the bizarre crap MO has been thru with the Republican Party! Your statement comes from a weak position! Now we got a report that @HawleyMO mis-used our govt for his political party?And you’re worried about hiding that fact?
29.200. Audits to be conducted at discretion of auditor or request of governor — auditor’s duties. — 1. Except as provided under subsection 2 of this section, all audits conducted under this chapter may be made at the discretion of the auditor without advance notice to the organization being audited. An audit also shall be conducted upon the request of the governor as provided under section 26.060, and the expenses for any such audit conducted upon the request of the governor shall be paid as provided in section 26.090.
2. The auditor, on his or her initiative and as often as he or she deems necessary, to the extent deemed practicable and consistent with the overall responsibility as contained in this chapter, shall make or cause to be made audits of all or any part of the activities of the state agencies.
3. The auditor shall make, or cause to be made, audits of all or any parts of political subdivisions and other entities as authorized in this chapter or any other law of this state.
4. In selecting audit areas and in evaluating current audit activity, the auditor may, at his or her discretion, consider and utilize, in whole or in part, the relevant audit coverage and applicable reports of the audit staffs of the various state agencies, independent contractors, and federal agencies.
[….]
Ah, one of the ladder climber (r) audits just came out.
State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) [2019 file photo].
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a report that looked into whether former Attorney General Josh Hawley used state resources for political purposes. The review determined that coordination between political campaign consultants and Attorney General staff gave an appearance of impropriety, and the Attorney General used a state vehicle for political and potentially personal purposes.
This portion of the closeout audit was initiated at the request of Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, shortly after his office began an investigation into a complaint that Attorney General Hawley used public funds to support his U.S. Senate campaign. In the request, Secretary of State Ashcroft cited the State Auditor’s Office’s experience in such audits, as well as the authority of the Auditor to subpoena individuals and documents. Former employees of the Attorney General’s Office agreed to sworn testimony and did not require a subpoena. In the interest of transparency and in accordance with professional audit standards, the transcripts of the interviews are included in the report.
“At the request of the Republican Secretary of State, my office performed an in-depth audit, which confirmed media reports about the use of campaign consultants and a state vehicle by the office of the former Attorney General,” Auditor Galloway said. “Campaign-paid political consultants from out of state advised staff in the Attorney General’s Office. Additionally, then-Attorney General Hawley used a state vehicle and state employee for trips that were partly political or appeared personal.”
The audit found that consultants paid with Hawley state campaign funds interacted with and advised Attorney General’s Office staff. These contacts included in-person meetings during working hours at the Attorney General’s Office in Jefferson City where consultants gave advice on the administration of official duties.
Interaction between campaign-paid consultants and state employees include discussion of to-do lists created by the consultants recommending assignments to state staff. For example, prior to the roll-out of a human trafficking initiative by the Attorney General, consultants provided logistical guidance to state employees.
While these interactions between consultants and government officials give the appearance of using state resources for political purposes, no evidence exists of a violation of state law. Additionally, because the communications between campaign and AGO staff were conducted by private email and text messages, the purposes of these meetings could not always be determined.
The audit also found that Attorney General Hawley used a state vehicle and state employee as driver/security detail for some trips for which the business purpose was not documented. Some trips were partly political in nature and other trips appeared to be personal. For example, a state vehicle was used to travel to a Lincoln Day event in Platte County, which is a political event.
In some cases, the state employee took vacation time and received separate payment from federal campaign funds during the time of specific meetings. There is no record of any reimbursements to the state for the use of a state vehicle on these trips. The audit recommended that taxpayers be reimbursed for the amount of state resources used for political or personal purposes by former Attorney General Hawley. While there are no provisions in state law that allow for reimbursement for non-official use, such reimbursements by elected officials have taken place in the past.
Finally, the audit found that the Attorney General’s Office did not always follow communication and retention policies. The use of personal text and email to communicate official business and the use of a Google calendar for official meeting invites were in violation of AGO policy. The audit recommends that the Attorney General’s Office ensure policies are followed regarding the use of personal email accounts and personal devices, and that business communications are retained in accordance with state-approved record schedules.
At a press conference announcing the release of the report, Auditor Galloway addressed criticism by now-Senator Hawley, who released a response to the audit several weeks before the report was finalized and available to the public.
“The unfair attacks by Senator Hawley in an attempt to deceive taxpayers about the nature of this audit are disturbing, but unfortunately, they are not surprising,” Auditor Galloway said. “My career staff carried out this audit professionally and in adherence to professional audit standards, sometimes in the face of abusive attacks. Now that all of the facts are available, it is clear that this report is based solely on evidence provided by current and former Attorney General’s Office staff and political consultants who worked with the office. There was no bias.”
The report released today focuses on the allegations of use of state resources for political purposes as requested by the Secretary of State. An additional report on the general operations of the Attorney General’s Office during Hawley’s two-year tenure in office is ongoing. That report is expected to be completed in the coming months.
[….]
Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].
The current Attorney General is Eric Schmitt (r).
The audit report [pdf] is 450 pages, with letters and interview transcripts. As always, the really interesting stuff is in the details.
In page 4 of the report [Attorney General’s Office = AGO, State Auditor’s Office = SAO]:
…In a December 31, 2019, letter (Appendix I, page 435) in response to seeing a draft copy of this report, the AGO formally objected to the inclusion of interview transcripts in this report, and stated the inclusion of these transcripts would be a disclosure of audit working papers, and therefore, a felony violation of Chapter 29, RSMo. The SAO disagrees with this conclusion. Objections to the inclusion of interview transcripts and audit communications citing Chapter 29, RSMo, are without merit. The confidentiality provisions of Chapter 29 are intended to protect the SAO’s working papers from public disclosure. The interpretation that those confidentiality provisions are intended to keep the SAO from disclosing information obtained during the course of the audit is at odds with Chapter 29, RSMo, and Yellow Book requirements, which both require a report of information obtained during an audit be made public. In addition, the statement that the inclusion of working papers as appendices to a public report is unprecedented is not accurate. Including information obtained during an audit as appendices is very common and not unique to this administration. Appendices have been part of audit reports issued by the SAO for decades…
From a letter [page 411 in the audit, page 413 in the pdf], dated February 21, 2019, from Michael Moorefield, Chief of Staff and Counsel in the State Auditor’s Office, addressed to Christopher R. Wray, Chief of Staff in the Attorney General’s Office:
…I am writing this letter to outline the conflict of interest that prevents the Attorney General’s Office from representing the State Auditor’s Office in any case related to an audit. Because of this conflict, the State Auditor’s Office will not tender any case to your office where the authority of the State Auditor to conduct audits under the performance audit standards is being challenged…”
…This conflict was further demonstrated in your response to information requested by our audit team in a letter dated February 15, 2019. In that letter, to another statewide official, you again challenged the authority of the State Auditor to obtain information related to the audit. The Attorney General’s Office explicitly stated that it was “unaware of any constitutional or statutory that allows the Auditor to request the information sought.” The “information sought” included very basic records such as calendar events, conference room meeting bookings with attendees, timesheets, leave records, expense accounts, dates of employment, financial disclosure forms, contracts with consultants and personnel policies and procedures. I have attached a copy of this letter.
These documents are requested regularly in audits by this office. In the letter, you suggested that the only authority this office would have to request this information is “as part of an end-of-term audit.” By law, however, the State Auditor has the authority to audit state offices on her initiative and as often as she deems necessary…
The letter concludes:
…Given the irreconcilable conflict created by your (1): taking a position against the authority of the State Auditor’s Office; (2) attempting to give legal advice and direct the audit of the Attorney General’s Office; and (3) communicating your position against the authority of this office to a third-party, the Attorney general’s Office cannot serve as attorney for this office in any case related to its core audit function…
Well, those conversations must have been a might bit testy.
Then there’s this discussion – in a transcript – of whether the transcript would be made public in the audit [starting at page 276 in the audit, page 278 in the pdf]:
1 STATE OF MISSOURI
2 OFFICE OF THE STATE AUDITOR
3 Audit of Missouri Attorney General’s Office
4 Deposition of Daniel Hartman
5
6 October 3rd, 2019
For the State of Missouri Auditor’s Office:
MR. JOEL E. ANDERSON
STATE OF MISSOURI OFFICE OF AUDITOR NICOLE GALLOWAY
For Mr. Hartman:
MR. BRENT E. HADEN
HADEN & HADEN
[starting at page 276 in the audit, page 278 in the pdf]
11 MR. ANDERSON: Once the audit is
12 published, if it’s part of it, that part is.
13 MR. HADEN: I understand that, because of
14 that — the theory on that would be that it’s a
15 public document anyway. Now, what determines
16 whether or not you attach — because here is my
17 issue — and you and I have talked about it. We
18 don’t have to do this on a transcript. I’m not –
19 by the way, I’m not necessarily opposed to doing
20 this on a transcript, but he’s here voluntarily, and
21 you’ve got a boss that’s running for governor, and
22 you’ve got a boss that’s going to have — I’m not
23 saying she will do this or she won’t do this, and
24 I — frankly, America is America, but she would have
25 some incentive to take potshots at a sitting senator
1 from the opposite party.
2 MR. ANDERSON: You’ve said that to me
3 before –
4 MR. HADEN: I have said it, and I’ll say
5 it on the record here today.
6 MR. ANDERSON: You already have said it on
7 the record.
8 MR. HADEN: Okay. So that being the case,
9 what’s –
10 MR. ANDERSON: I’m kind of done with it at
11 this point.
12 MR. HADEN: Done with what?
13 MR. ANDERSON: Well, the same question
14 over and over again.
15 MR. HADEN: Okay. So — all right. So
16 what is my assurance that this is not going to be a
17 politicized event? I’m just a lawyer doing my job.
18 What is my assurance from the auditor’s
19 office that this is going to be about doing their
20 job, rather than about pursuing some political
21 agenda?
22 MR. ANDERSON: I don’t know what assurance
23 you’re looking for.
24 MR. HADEN: Well, I’m at least looking for
25 assurance that you will do your utmost to ensure
1 that doesn’t happen.
2 MR. ANDERSON: What is the “that” that
3 you’re talking about?
4 MR. HADEN: What I just said. It’s not
5 going to be some politicized event –
6 MR. ANDERSON: What does “politicized”
7 mean? Will it be public? Well, an audit is public.
8 MR. HADEN: Okay.
9 MR. ANDERSON: I mean, where do you go
10 from there?
11 MR. HADEN: Okay. All right. Well, we
12 can proceed with the questions, I guess, and see
13 where we end up today.
14 MR. ANDERSON: If you have an objection to
15 make or a concern with a question, that’s why you’re
16 here.
17 MR. HADEN: Obviously.
18 MR. ANDERSON: Uh-huh.
19 MR. HADEN: I’m just trying to figure out
20 what exactly the auditor’s office is going to do
21 with the information they’re gathering.
22 MR. ANDERSON: They’re going to do a
23 report, and it’s going to be published, just like
24 every audit they’ve ever done.
25 MR. HADEN: Okay. We’ll see.
1 MR. ANDERSON: Good to start?
2 MR. HADEN: Yes.
3 MR. ANDERSON: Pam.
4 EXAMINATION
5 BY MS. ALLISON: [….]
“…We’ll see…”
And here we are.
“…I’m not – by the way, I’m not necessarily opposed to doing this on a transcript, but he’s here voluntarily, and you’ve got a boss that’s running for governor, and you’ve got a boss that’s going to have — I’m not saying she will do this or she won’t do this, and I — frankly, America is America, but she would have some incentive to take potshots at a sitting senator from the opposite party…”
Elad Gross (D), candidate for Attorney General, speaking in Sedalia, Missouri on January 25, 2020.
Lindsey Simmons, a Democratic Party candidate in the 4th Congressional District, held a campaign meet and greet event, including area and statewide candidates, in Sedalia yesterday evening. Elad Gross (D), a candidate for Attorney General addressed the crowd of a little over a hundred individuals:
Elad Gross (D): (audio edit) …Today Missouri is the, one of the most dangerous states in the country because of the level of violence that we’re seeing in so many communities. It’s not limited to St. Louis, it’s not limited to Kansas City, it’s in Springfield, it’s in St. Joe, it’s in Columbia, it’s just about anywhere that you’d go.
That’s what’s at stake in this election. That’s what we’re voting on. We have to decide if we’re gonna be putting our kids before all these other issue that we squabble about all the time. It’s way beyond party, it’s way beyond all this stuff that we see on TV, all this manufactured debates. It’s about the character of us as Missourians.
We need to change the people that we have representing us and the way that we are being represented. And that’s why we need to send Lindsey [Simmons] to Congress. [applause] That’s why we need to do that. Because, you see that there’s almost no event where you’re going to see Lindsey by herself. You’ve always got your kid with you. And that means so much, right? You all know him. But that’s, that’s the representation that we need. And so I’m so happy you’re running. Thank you for doing it. [applause] Thank you. Yeah.
(audio edit)
…Because the way that we get this done is by building community with each other. It’s by looking at each other and finding out how can we help one another. It’s by saying that when, when you’re kid is hurt, that’s my kid, too. It’s by saying that we have each others’ backs. And that’s why it is so important for us to be in this room tonight. And we all understand it. But we also know that there are lots of people who are not in tis room tonight. There are lots of folks who should be in this room tonight, who have the same interests that we do, who know what the stakes are, but so many of them have given up. So many of them have said, what’s the point? I get all these promises and nothing ever changes for me. Right? We know those people.
That’s why this has to be so much more than just getting one or two or three people in this room elected to office. Even all of us.
We have got to change the way that we run Missouri. We have got to change it. We have got to take back our state.
That’s what’s at stake in this election. And that’s why we need to get people in this room elected. We need to get people in this room. We need to go door-to-door and make sure that they understand that they have hope in this election, too. That we are going to take back our state and make sure that folks like Lindsey [Simmon] and everybody else in this room represent us. [applause] That’s what we ought to do. Thank you all.
610.011. Liberal construction of law to be public policy. — 1. It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. Sections 610.010 to 610.200 shall be liberally construed and their exceptions strictly construed to promote this public policy.
2. Except as otherwise provided by law, all public meetings of public governmental bodies shall be open to the public as set forth in section 610.020, all public records of public governmental bodies shall be open to the public for inspection and copying as set forth in sections 610.023 to 610.026, and all public votes of public governmental bodies shall be recorded as set forth in section 610.015.
——–
(L. 1987 S.B. 2, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1020, et al.)
Liberally construed. That means access to public records is the norm.
Elad Gross (D) [2019 file photo].
This morning, from 2020 Attorney General candidate Elad Gross (D):
Elad Gross @BigElad
Big news in my Sunshine Law case!
On Friday, the Western District Court of Appeals accepted three amicus briefs in support of my lawsuit from 4 orgs:
@aclu_mo, the Freedom Center of MO, @missouripress, and @MarkPedroli and the Sunshine and Gov’t Accountability Project.
[….] 8:00 AM · Dec 14, 2019
And the explanation thread:
I identified 27 groups and individuals with ties to a scheme to hide the identities of political donors in Missouri. I asked the Office of the Governor for any communications with those folks.
The answer: Over 13,000 records responsive to my request.
Sometimes, the government charges copying fees for public records. These records appear to be electronic, which means copying costs shouldn’t be high at all.
But I was charged over $3,600 to access the records at a rate of $40 per hour. That was more than double what the previous administration charged (and more than double the rate I got paid as an Assistant Attorney General!).
Despite my requests, the government refused to reconsider and the Attorney General – who is supposed to enforce Missouri’s Sunshine Law – never answered me.
I eventually filed a lawsuit to enforce the Sunshine Law. I’ve been in court fighting this with my money for over a year.
Through litigation, I discovered the government was charging me so much money not to make copies, but to have an attorney review public records. Charging for an attorney had never been allowed by a court.
Until my case.
The judge ruled against me and said the government could charge attorney’s fees.
That means that the only folks who can access records from our government now must have enough money to pay for a lawyer.
And the Attorney General has been training state agencies to charge these fees. School boards, health departments, our state hiding records about kids getting dropped from health care services: All of these documents will be inaccessible for most people.
That’s not how the Sunshine Law has ever worked, and it’s not how it is supposed to work. It was designed to allow the public to have transparency, to access public records, to hold our government accountable.
In a few months, I’ll explain that to the Court of Appeals, and, hopefully, we’ll make Missouri’s Sunshine Law work again.
I’m proud to fight for the freedom of the press and for public transparency, and I’m honored to have such wonderful organizations in my corner.
