What They Are Saying: “Did Political Bias Influence Galloway’s Audit?”; Oversight Committee Launches Review Of “Serious Allegations” That Nicole Galloway Used Her Office For “Political Gain”

January 30, 2020

Missouri State Auditor Galloway Has Been Accused Of “Political Bias” And Using Her Taxpayer-Funded Office “For Political Gain”

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley: “What is going on here? Is the Auditor’s office independent or is it just a giant political campaign? Is it legal to change conclusions of a state audit for political gain?” (Josh Hawley, Twitter, 1/14/20)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Headline: “Did Political Bias Influence Galloway’s Audit Of Hawley? Lawmakers Press For Answers”

Associated Press Headline: “Missouri GOP Drills Galloway’s Office Over Hawley Review”

  • “GOP Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday drilled state Auditor Nicole Galloway’s official staffers amid continued Republican claims of political bias in work by the Democrat, who is running for governor.” (Summer Ballentine, “Missouri GOP Drills Galloway’s Office Over Hawley Review,” Associated Press, 1/29/20)

St. Louis Public Radio Headline: “Galloway’s Office Faces Questions From Missouri Lawmakers About Hawley Audit”

Galloway’s Office Potentially Pursued “Illegal” Actions To Target A Republican, Yielding Calls For Investigations

 

Emails Indicate Galloway’s Staff Discussed Manipulating The Audit Report To Make The Results Damaging For Senator Hawley. “Hawley has also criticized an email from a member of the auditor’s office, Pam Allison, talking to a staffer from the attorney general’s office. The message was in response to a question about confidentiality with expert witnesses and other services in litigation. Allison inadvertently sent an email to the attorney general’s office that she would ‘drop the confidentiality paragraph in the report and beef up the personal email/personal calendar section.’” (Jason Rosenbaum, “Galloway’s Office Faces Questions From Missouri Lawmakers About Hawley Audit,” St. Louis Public Radio, 1/29/20)

  • Senator Josh Hawley: “But some pretty serious things have come to light. #1, the lead auditor on Galloway’s review openly discussed changing audit’s conclusion in order to make it more critical of me after she found no evidence of misconduct. That’s shocking, unethical, and perhaps illegal.” (Josh Hawley, Twitter, 1/14/20)

Allegations “Cast Doubt” As To Whether Galloway Has Performed Her Job “Fair[ly] And Impartial[y]”

Senator Dave Schatz: “These serious allegations cast doubt on whether Auditor Galloway’s audits of other statewide office-holders were in keeping with the fair and impartial work of past auditors—both Democrats and Republicans.” (“Missouri Senator Requests Independent Review Of State Auditor’s Office,” KRCH, 1/27/20)

  • “The Auditor’s findings and recommendations only carry weight when people believe in the impartiality and professionalism of their work.” (Jack Suntrup, “Did Political Bias Influence Galloway’s Audit Of Hawley? Lawmakers Press For Answers.,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/29/20)

Representative Robert Ross: “This allegation would constitute an extreme breach in the confidence the people of Missouri place in the role of your office.” (Jack Suntrup, “Missouri House Will ‘Look Into’ Alleged Political Bias In State Audit Of Hawley’s Office,’ St Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/24/20)

  • “This discussion of the appearance of bias potentially — it’s a big deal with our audits.” (Jason Rosenbaum, “Galloway’s Office Faces Questions From Missouri Lawmakers About Hawley Audit,” St. Louis Public Radio, 1/29/20)
  •  “I am concerned by the recent claim that political ramifications were considered in altering the conclusion of one of your recent audits.” (Jack Suntrup, “Missouri House Will ‘Look Into’ Alleged Political Bias In State Audit Of Hawley’s Office,’ St Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/24/20)

Galloway’s Staff Admitted The Lead Auditor Had Recently Been Removed “Due To The Appearance Of Bias” – Only After Allegations Were Raised

Testimony Revealed That A Donor To Hawley’s Former Democratic Opponent, Sen. Claire McCaskill, Was Leading The Hawley Audit Until Concerns Were Raised Two Weeks Ago. “Jon Hawles, director of quality control in the auditor’s office, told members of a House oversight panel that Robert Showers, who had overseen the audit of Hawley’s former office, was removed about two weeks ago in order to eliminate the ‘appearance’ of bias. The personnel move came after Hawley — now the junior U.S. Senator for Missouri — raised questions about the fairness of the yet-to-be-released audit.” (Jack Suntrup, “Missouri House Will ‘Look Into’ Alleged Political Bias In State Audit Of Hawley’s Office,’ St Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/24/20)

  • “’He was the audit director on the (Hawley) audit until about two weeks ago, when I took over,’ Halwes testified. ‘Why did you take over,’ Schroer asked Halwes. ‘We removed him from the audit due to the appearance of bias,’ Halwes said.” (Brian Hauswirth, “Missouri House committee hears testimony from Galloway’s office about ongoing Hawley audit,” Missourinet, 1/30/20)
  • “Hearing has just ended. I just asked Chairman @RobertRossMO if he was aware the lead auditor had been removed. He found out, like reporters did, from today’s testimony.” (Brian Hauswirth, Twitter, 1/29/20)

Galloway Attempted To Distance Yet Another Politically-Connected Senior Staff Member, McCaskill’s Former Campaign Manager David Kirby, From The Audit. “Galloway also says that David Kirby, who is the auditor’s legislative liaison, had no role in the audit process involving the Hawley closeout audit. Mr. Kirby was Senator McCaskill’s campaign manager.” (Brian Hauswirth, “Missouri House committee hears testimony from Galloway’s office about ongoing Hawley audit,” Missourinet, 1/30/20)