House Speaker says he will set up committee to investigate Attorney General in "pay-to-play" scheme
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House Speaker says he will set up committee to investigate Attorney General in "pay-to-play" scheme

Date: October 29, 2014
By: Steven Anthony
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster will be the subject of an legislative investigation after a New York Times story naming him was published.
RunTime:  0:45
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: House Speaker Tim Jones' annoucement comes after the New York Times published an article featuring Koster and other Attorneys General being approached with political contributions by lawyers from Five Hour Energy in exchange for dropping a lawsuit against the company.

Jones says this erodes the public's confidence in their elected officials.

Actuality:  SPKRKOS2.WAV
Run Time:  00:15
Description: "This shines a bad light on all of us who are in public office because, you know, the public sometimes doesn't care if you're a Republican or Democrat, they just want good people in office and for our chief law enforcement officer to be violating the law is shocking."

Despite reaching out to Koster's office, they have given no immediate comment on the story.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.  

Intro: 
A New York Times story is promting a state legislative investigation against Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: House Speaker Tim Jones says he will do all he can in his remaining time in office to start the investigation, but it will be up to his successor to finish the job.

Actuality:  SPKRKOS5.WAV
Run Time:  00:18
Description: "I believe we're going to look into setting up an investigatory committee as we've done on other issues. I will set that up. I, of course, will be out of office in a few months, so it'll be up to Speaker Diehl... Speaker-elect Diehl to proceed with that. I would hope he would and I believe he'll have the strong suppport of his caucus to do so."

When reached for comment, Diehl said he had not seen the story and has not spoken to Jones and the Attorney General's office has issued no immediate comment regarding the New York Times' story.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.