JEFFERSON CITY _ State Auditor Susan Montee is making excuses for why Jay Nixon failed to provide a detailed financial accounting of his illegal use of a state vehicle for political purposes despite her half-hearted agreement to “audit” Nixon’s travel records.

As early as last week, Montee speculated how Nixon may have come up with his reimbursement for his illegal activity. “I’m guessing he came up with an estimate based on a calendar. I don’t know how else he would do it,” Montee told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. While Montee initially stated she would not audit Nixon, she has reversed course and agreed to Nixon’s request to review documents Nixon provides that have exposed his illegal activity to Missourians – thus continuing her role as Nixon’s political guard dog.

Montee’s waffling on the issue comes even though she is fully aware that the last attorney general was convicted on felony counts for abuse of public resources. Montee also has previously conceded to the media that Nixon used his state vehicle for political trips even though he assured state auditors just last year that he used the vehicle only for official purposes. Missourians are hopeful that Montee’s “audit” will look into why Nixon lied to the previous state auditor.

“It is clear that Susan Montee would rather protect Jay Nixon than actually investigate a case in which taxpayer dollars were used for blatantly political purposes. Instead of acting as the taxpayers’ watchdog, Susan Montee is acting like Jay Nixon’s political guard dog,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Missourians will be interested to see the results of her ‘audit’ so they can decide whether Susan Montee will continue to put politics over her constitutional duty to protect the public trust.”

Related:

Missourinet: Auditor Denies Request to Audit Nixon’s Records

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