Missouri House leadership all deny knowledge of FBI inquiry
JEFFERSON CITY — In a meeting with reporters today, the three Republican leaders of the Missouri House all denied any personal knowledge of an FBI inquiry into political corruption in the state Capitol.
Speaker Ron Richard, Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt and Majority Leader Steve Tilley all said they had not been interviewed and that they had no previous knowledge of an investigation.
The three said that if there is any corruption, any House members who know if it, should report it to Richard immediately.
“We don’t know anything,” Tilley said. “I haven’t talked to the FBI and I haven’t talked to anybody who’s talked to them.”
Added Pratt: “We’re not aware that a crime has occurred.” If one has, Pratt said, House members are obliged by the rules to report such an incident to Richard, who would then forward the complaint to the House Ethics Committee.
Richard said he’s received no such complaints. He took responsibility for the memo sent out by House attorney Don Lograsso Monday warning members to not take anything of value in exchange for official action.
“I’m concerned that there is an appearance of a violation so they need to be reminded of their oath,” Richard said.
The letter told House members that any conversations they have about receiving anything of value from lobbyists, such as tickets to sporting events or meals, needs to be held outside the context of any official action.
Concerns over an FBI inquiry had been rumored in the Capitol last year, but grew Sunday when the Kansas City Star reported that three unnamed lawmakers told the paper they had spoken to FBI agents. One of the unnamed lawmakers said he had recorded conversations on behalf of the FBI.
Read the Post-Dispatch story on the Lograsso memo here.
Those under investigation often don’t know it until their secretary buzzes in to say some guys in dark suits and sunglasses are in the waiting room, carrying handcuffs.
In this day and age anybody caught taking bribes or anything from lobbyists for special favors should lose any money, pensions, and healthcare that our taxes paid for!!
Now we all know that these house leaders or any government official for that fact, would never lie to the citizens. So I am sure that there is no FBI investigation and that no one has any knowledge of any FBI investigation.
Where is the cast from “Lie To Me” when you need them?
Nice unbiased reporting Tony. If you are half the reporter you claim to be then you would know that the stories this week have been allegations that the target is the Democratic Minority Leader Levota. These charges were made by his fellow Democrats. Those same Democrats said that the Speaker WAS NOT involved and is an honorable man. Levota even ackowledged publicly that the charges were being made by disgruntled members of his own caucus. Curious how that was not mentioned and “overlooked” in your so called “breaking news” .
Why dont you ask Levota about the shakedown letter his brother sent to prosepective lobbying clients at the beginning of the session?
Why dont you ask Jason Kander about his fundraising schemes while serving on Budget committee and the promises he made for his votes and amendments? My educated guess is that we will never see your “hardhitting” journalism skills on these two stories.
Griffin, Banks, Carter, etc. They are all gone now. Investigating now is, to coin an old phrase, shutting the door after the horse is already out of the barn.
Hey OpenYourEyes, the only “fellow Democrat” making such an allegation that Representative LeVota is involved is the sleazy Representative Ray Salva of DUI fame.
Ray Salva has ZERO credibility with true Democrats. In fact, it has been questioned whether Ray Salva should even be part of the Democratic Caucus. Ray Salva is evidently so preoccupied “doing business” with the City of Sugar Creek’s lobbyist that he cannot keep his crazy allegation straight.
The LeVota/Kander deal on budget seems the most likely confirmation source of what Ray Salva has said about LeVota’s selling positions for contributions. Need to watch that closely.
Stan,
Nice. Slime a member of our own party to change the subject. He aint the only one talking. Just curious..Why no comment on the shakedown letter sent by Levota’s brother and the sale of the budget seat to Kander in exchange for Kander using the position to raise money for Levota? That certainly is no secret among the caucus
The point of my post is what kind of journalism the Post does… and how the real story is overlooked.
Let’s be fair to Ray. He’s also hard at work exposing the conspiracy where the Missouri Gaming Commission is making up winnings numbers.
“Slime a member of our own party to change the subject”
That’s what Ray is doing, along with his two buddies.