Governor Matt Blunt’s Chief of Staff is raising ethical concerns regarding Attorney General Jay Nixon’s dealings with AmerenUE in light of a criminal investigation into the utility’s activities following the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse. Chief of Staff Ed Martin is asking the Public Service Commission to investigate political campaign contributions from the utility that Martin claims were solicited by Nixon.
In a letter to PSC Chairman Jeff Davis , Martin asks the Commission to get in touch with Ameren’s general counsel Steve Sullivan to learn of the circumstances surrounding contacts with the Attorney General. Martin writes in his letter that he is concerned that Sullivan, “has repeatedly acted with questionable integrity with his interactions with Attorney General Jay Nixon.”
Martin, a lawyer, will not say there is anything illegal about the dealings, but calls Nixon’s actions, “a breach of his ethical duty as an attorney.”
These accusations are being made as the PSC considers a rate increase request from Ameren – an increase that at one time included a $10-Million damage charge related to the Taum Sauk disaster. That charge was later rescinded.
Download/Listen: Steve Walsh interviews Chief of Staff Ed Martin (12:00 MP3)
