Missouri’s new governor might find his administration under investigation. The Missouri Democratic Party March 1 asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate contracts Gov. Matt Blunt awarded to U.S. Attorney Todd Graves’ family. The no-bid contracts are valued at more than $3.6 million. “This arrangement goes far beyond the appearance of impropriety,” said Corey Dillon, executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party, in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. “One could reasonably argue that this lucrative contract will ensure that the Blunt administration is never investigated for corruption or wrongdoing as long as United States Attorney Graves and his family are personally getting rich off of the administration.” On Feb. 9, the Blunt administration announced that Tracy Graves, wife of U.S. Attorney for Missouri’s Western District Todd Graves, had received a no-bid contract to run the second-most lucrative motor vehicle fee office in Missouri. The office is in Gladstone. As the fee agent, Tracy Graves will gross more than $2.6 million over the next four years of Blunt’s term. Todd Graves’ brother-in-law, Todd Bartles, also was awarded a $1 million no-bid contract to run the Sugar Creek Motor Vehicle Fee Office. In addition, two congressional staffers to Congressman Sam Graves, who is the brother of Todd Graves, were given no-bid contracts, even as they continue to be on the federal government’s payroll. Congressman Sam Graves’ Deputy Chief of Staff Dean Brookshier was given a no-bid contract to run the Chillicothe office and Field Representative Naomi Boss was awarded the Keytesville office. [[In-content Ad]]
