Governor Matt Blunt’s office complains that a lawyer accusing the Governor of violating the state open records law is violating legal ethics.

Blunt’s lawyer has filed a complaint with the State Supreme Court against Scott Eckersley, who was fired in September. Eckersley says he was fired because he advised the Governor that it was against the law to destroy e-mails that constitute government records under the law.

The Governor’s complaint against Eckersley says he’s violating ethics by disclosing legal advice given to his client. Eckersley’s lawyer says the complaint is, in effect, an admission that Eckersley gave the advice that the Governor’s staff has denied he gave.