Opinion -- Missouri Records-Gate Continues: What’s In Steelman’s Missing Documents?

By the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

After four days, Sarah Steelman, the former Missouri State Treasurer and top recruit of the Republican establishment, is still refusing to respond to reports that “most of the key documents” from her tenure as Missouri state treasurer are missing from state archives. Now, new revelations suggest what she might be hiding: according to media reports at the time, Steelman aides used taxpayer-funded state resources to discuss political activities.

Steelman’s staff in the Treasurer’s office discussed working for her campaign consultant while using state email accounts. In February 2008, Steelman staff members Doug Gaston and Jane Dudeck-Gilstrap held a conversation over state email about Dudeck-Gilstrap going to work part time for Steelman’s gubernatorial campaign consultant. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/29/08]

“Sarah Steelman is still refusing to explain what happened to the emails and schedules from her time as State Treasurer. But news reports at the time detailed how her staff was using taxpayer-funded resources for political purposes. Is this why she is hiding the public records? Whatever the explanation, Steelman needs to come clean immediately,” said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “These revelations and her unwillingness to address them raise serious questions about Steelman’s fitness for public office and until she finally comes clean, she shouldn’t expect voters to take her seriously.”

Last week it was reported that “key documents” from Sarah Steelman’s tenure as state treasurer have gone missing, even though they are protected from destruction under Missouri state law. Since then, Steelman has refused to answer questions about the whereabouts of the documents.

Shockingly, Steelman herself actually sought to increase penalties for public officials who “purposefully” destroy records protected under Missouri’s Sunshine Law; if Steelman “purposefully” destroyed these records, she could face $5,000 in fines.

MORE BACKGROUND:

Documents from Steelman’s tenure as State Treasurer have gone missing. Last week it was reported that documents that are “routinely retained” under law have gone missing. [Politico, 3/31/11]

Steelman led the charge to increase penalties for public officials who “purposefully” destroyed records protected under Missouri’s Sunshine Law. If Steelman “purposefully” destroyed these records, she could face $5,000 in fines. When discussing the importance of retaining public records, Steelman said “It is the bedrock of democracy to make sure that we have an informed public, and to do that, you have to be able to access your government," Steelman said. . . . The old law allowed a judge to impose a fine of up to $500 for a ‘purposeful’ violation. The new law boosts the possible fine to $5,000. It also creates the category of ‘knowing’ violation, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.” [Associated Press, 6/8/04; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2/17/02]