Governor’s Office, Former Deputy General Counsel at Odds Over Reason for Firing

A former deputy general counsel for the Blunt Administration claims he was fired, because he disagreed with the administration’s stance on releasing e-mail correspondence to the public.

Governor Blunt’s office says Scott Eckersley was fired for doing outside work on state time and receiving inappropriate e-mails at the office. Eckersley says he was let go for telling the governor’s office that e-mails are public documents and must be disclosed, not deleted as is the practice in the governor’s office.

The governor’s office says that had nothing to do with Eckersley’s firing. It says he was fired for some disturbing e-mails he sent and received and for using state time to do private work. Eckersley calls the allegations character assassination.