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Attorney general's office review

Published (4/4/2008)
By Craig Green
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There will be an investigation into alleged misconduct at the Office of the Attorney General. The Legislative Audit Commission met March 28 with Legislative Auditor James Nobles to discuss an inquiry into allegations and began to outline the issues. No vote was taken by the commission.

Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park), who worked in the office from 1996 to 2001, said that although recent media coverage can only be classified as allegations, because the attorney general is “the people’s attorney,” everyone in the office “has to be held to the highest possible standard.”

Among the allegations is the claim that some attorneys in the office were pressured to give bad advice to state agencies, attorneys were pressured to post positive comments on blogs supporting the office and false information was provided on sworn affidavits.

With the severity of these claims, and the potential for a political impact, Simon believes the Office of the Legislative Auditor would be the best organization to conduct an investigation. He also said that any investigation should not delve into managerial matters, such as activities in the office dealing with unions.

Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) raised concerns of an official “fishing expedition” into the workings of the office, possibly setting a precedent for future investigations of other state officials.

Rest then asked Nobles if his office could conduct an investigation without the commission making an official request. Nobles said that current statute does provide him with the authority to conduct an investigation if he feels it is warranted. And based on recent findings, Nobles said, an investigation could move forward.

Nobles also said that although he has no interest in conducting a “broad ranging investigation of the attorney general or anyone else,” the office should not view the commission’s decision not to vote on a request for a report as a lessening of his office’s authority in pursuing the issue.

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