Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Chief Says Ameren Attorney Not Telling the Truth about Nixon Contributions
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt's Chief of Staff Ed Martin is seeking answers from Ameren's General Counsel Steve Sullivan who on Friday suddenly changed his story about political contributions that were funneled to Attorney General Jay Nixon's campaign for governor.
In a September 11, 2006, meeting in the governor's office, Sullivan told Martin that Attorney General Jay Nixon's campaign requested and received political money from the utility company during his criminal investigation. Sullivan never denied this information until last Friday when he sent a letter to the Public Service Commission.
"Your letter runs counter to what you told me in the Governor's office," Martin wrote. "You clearly told me that the Attorney General and/or his campaign called you and directed you to send contributions and that they would get the money to the campaign."
According to the Associated Press, Nixon began his investigation into Ameren on December 15, 2005. In the first three months of 2006, Ameren donated four separate payments of $5,000 to four different Democratic campaign finance committees. On March 31, 2006, each of the four committees donated nearly $5,000 to Nixon's campaign for governor for a total of $19,100.
Martin's concern about Sullivan's changing story is heightened by the governor's goal to quickly resolve the Taum Sauk reservoir disaster and the Attorney General's continued efforts to impede a settlement. The issue provides a strong basis for the conclusion that Ameren and Sullivan may be acting under strong persuasion.
"I fear that you are being intimidated into an untruth. I also fear that you may be covering something up," Martin wrote. "I am concerned that the wellbeing of Ameren might be at risk over your actions with respect to the Attorney General."
Martin also notes that at no time in meetings and conversations after September 11 did Sullivan or other Ameren officials deny the conversation, in fact they confirmed Sullivan's claim. He also expressed strong concern that Sullivan refused to testify before the Ethics Commission despite the fact that he identified himself as in charge of all Ameren's political contributions.