Governor Blunt defends the firing of Deputy General Counsel Scott Eckersley. Eckersley contends the governor fired him, because he disagreed with the administration’s stance on releasing e-mail correspondence to the public. Eckersley says he was let go for telling the governor’s office that e-mails are public documents and must be disclosed in accordance with the Sunshine Law, not deleted as is the practice in the governor’s office.
Blunt disputes Eckersley’s explanation. Blunt says Eckersley was fired due to a poor work performance and questionable practices involving his e-mails. The governor says Eckersley did private work on public time in the office. Officials with the Blunt Administration say Eckersley was also let go for some disturbing e-mails he sent and received while working in the office.
Eckersley calls the allegations character assassination.
