As noted in previous blog entries (here and here), the unsubstantiated rumor has been circulating in local eateries and among Christmas shoppers that Matt Blunt, the outgoing Missouri governor, will soon follow in the footsteps of his father (Congressman Roy Blunt) and assume a position in the administration of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri.
One obstacle remained -- the e-mail deletion litigation -- which, as the Columbia Missourian reported on Tuesday, has now been overcome:
JEFFERSON CITY — The governor’s office will provide free copies of e-mails to investigators to settle a lawsuit that accused Gov. Matt Blunt and other officials of “knowingly and purposely” violating the state’s open-records law by denying access to the documents.
Under the deal announced in Cole County Circuit Court on Tuesday, the Republican governor admitted no wrongdoing, while his office agreed to hand over tens of thousands of pages of e-mails from Aug. 17 through Oct. 31, 2007, and allowed investigators appointed by Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon to inspect the office. The settlement also means that the lawsuit cannot be refiled against Blunt.
In a joint statement released after Tuesday’s hearing, the court-appointed attorneys and a lawyer representing Blunt said the agreement is a “comprehensive settlement of all the issues pertaining to the governor and his office.”
Remainder of article (here).
Updates to follow ...
