For breaking public records laws, Josh Hawley's office could cost Missouri taxpayers $300,000

A judge ruled that the Missouri Attorney General’s office “knowingly and purposefully” violated the state’s open records law while it was being run by now-U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley. The motivation for breaking the law, the judge concluded, was concern that releasing the records could harm Hawley’s campaign.
Following a Missouri judge’s determination that the attorney general’s office “knowingly and purposefully” violated the state’s open records law while it was being run by now-U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, plaintiffs in the case say they are owed more than $300,000 in legal fees.

In November, Cole County Judge Jon Beetem determined the attorney general’s office violated the Sunshine Law by taking steps to conceal emails between Hawley’s taxpayer-funded staff and his political consultants during his 2018 campaign for U.S. Senate.

The motivation for breaking the law, the judge concluded, was concern that releasing the records could harm Hawley’s campaign.