Childers cites Nixon conflict

Childers cites Nixon conflict
Governor candidate uses Ameren money.

Published Wednesday, June 7, 2006

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources might ask Attorney General Jay Nixon to recuse himself from legal action concerning the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse because he accepted more than $19,000 in political contributions from Ameren Corp., DNR’s chief said yesterday.

DNR Director Doyle Childers said he is losing faith in Nixon’s ability to represent the state in its case against Ameren, which delayed repairs at Taum Sauk before the Dec. 14 collapse.

After Nixon launched an investigation into the St. Louis utility, Ameren donated $20,000 to four Democratic campaign finance committees. The groups then donated nearly all the money to Nixon’s campaign for governor in 2008.

"It’s just such an obvious conflict that I just can’t comprehend someone doing that," Childers said.

Nixon told The Associated Press Thursday that the campaign contributions would not affect his investigation. His spokesman, Scott Holste, said yesterday that Nixon had nothing to add to his earlier comments.

Childers said members of DNR’s legal staff are considering whether to ask Nixon to recuse himself from the Taum Sauk case. Childers expects to meet this week with Gov. Matt Blunt’s staff to discuss the matter.

Blunt spokesman Spence Jackson said Nixon’s credibility for handling Taum Sauk litigation has been called into question by Ameren’s donations.

The stakes are high for DNR, which incurred millions of dollars in damages because of the Taum Sauk collapse, Childers said. The flood devastated the Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, which is operated by DNR, and injured the park superintendent, his wife and three children.

If Nixon steps off the investigation, Childers said DNR likely would hire an outside attorney to act as special prosecutor on the matter.

In April, Nixon said he would soon file a lawsuit or criminal charges against the company. Since then, he said he has backed off litigation and is in "complicated discussions" with Ameren about the accident.

"Unequivocally, my decisions are based on what’s best for the people of Missouri, and I have a 20-year record to prove that," Nixon said last week. He also said he wouldn’t refuse future donations from Ameren.