A State Senator heading a committee looking into the release of E. coli testing results at the Lake of the Ozarks claims there has been an organized cover-up. Senator Brad Lager (R-Savannah) says the Department of Natural Resources has played a key role in standing in the way of the committee that is learning why the release of the results was delayed.

“Since this review began in late July, early August, clearly DNR has made every effort to make this a difficult process,” said Lager in an interview with the Missourinet.

Lager has no doubt this is intentional.

“As we requested emails, as we asked for interviews of employees – all the things that should be very simple when the legislative body is working with a department – there has been time and time again when they have done everything they can to try to derail this process,” said Lager.

That leads to speculation there is an organized cover-up.

“If roadblocks are continuously created, obstacles are continuously put in the way, there is a point where one could argue that there is an organized cover-up going on,” suggested Lager.

DNR Director Mark Templeton was placed on a two-week suspension by Governor Jay Nixon and Lager wants the suspension to continue.

“I’ve asked the Governor to leave Director Templeton on suspension until we get to the bottom of this,” said Lager. “Either he or someone above him has made a conscious decision to make this a difficult process, to try to keep us from getting to the facts.”

Governor Nixon has extended the Templeton suspension until an investigation into the E. coli tests is completed.

Lager says the use of a subpoena to get to the truth is an option but he does not believe that tool will be necessary at this time.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)