Sources within the Missouri Ethics Commission have confirmed to the Missouri Political News Service that former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves’ last minute, eleven page letter to the commission last Thursday, swayed at least two members to vote for delaying a final decision on requiring candidates to return excess campaign funds. Before Graves’ letter, sources confirm to MOPNS that Commissioners were all set to require candidates to return excess campaign money. With the recent return of money by candidates, and pledges by others to do the same, they felt the final decision was now a slam dunk for them – until Graves’ letter arrived the day of the scheduled vote. Graves wrote that he hoped to “provide the Commission with useful guidance sorting out its statutory and constitutional duties from the enflamed rhetoric.” In his conclusion, he said he wanted to prevent the Commission from enaging in “value making and policy judgements that are legislative.”

One of the commissioners who was said to be swayed by the letter was Kansas City Attorney Michael Kilgore, a fairly recent appointee to the Commission. Kilgore is a fellow associate of Chris “Judas” Koster at the Dollar, Burns, & Becker law firm. Interestingly enough, Kilgore also used to work in Jay Nixon’s attorney general’s office. He was appointed by the Governor in 2006 on Koster’s recommendation.

Related:

Blog CCP: Campaign Contribution Update

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