JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)—Missouri’s former election integrity director filed a whistleblower lawsuit Monday against Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, alleging he was fired after raising concerns that staff were plotting to file a fake complaint in a legal case about the state’s voter database.
The lawsuit by Nicholas La Strada, a Republican, also asserts that Hoskins’ office illegally directed local election officials to change the results of a city council race and used state funds for a politically oriented mailing.
Hoskins “will not be able to comment on pending litigation involving a personnel matter,” spokesperson Anne Marie Moy said.
Hoskins already faces scrutiny for his actions in Missouri’s congressional redistricting saga. Last Thursday, the state Supreme Court found Hoskins temporarily in contempt of its order not to take steps to use new U.S. House districts backed by President Donald Trump in the November election. On Friday, several voters who signed a referendum petition putting the new congressional district map to a statewide vote in November filed suit seeking class-action status for monetary damages against Hoskins.
The latest lawsuit, though unrelated to redistricting, calls into question Hoskins’ role overseeing the November election.
“How can you trust a secretary of state’s office when they fired the man who was telling them what they cannot do,” said attorney Erin N. Vernon, of Independence, the lead lawyer in the lawsuit.
La Strada had...
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