JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri’s secretary of state is investigating fellow Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley over allegations that he used public funds to bolster his successful U.S. Senate bid.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s deputy general counsel confirmed the investigation in a Thursday letter . The investigation is in response to a complaint filed by a liberal organization.
The American Democracy Legal Fund says it was a misuse of taxpayer-funded resources for out-of-state political consultants to direct attorney general staff to do work that would help Hawley’s campaign.
Attorney general spokeswoman Mary Compton in a statement said the office is happy to cooperate with the investigation and “put these ridiculous allegations to bed once and for all.”
She called the allegations “totally meritless” and said no taxpayer resources were ever used for the campaign.
Average grain elevator margins are expected to be relatively normal this year for most of the Midwest. However, according to a new report from CoBank’, elevators should be cautious about the outlook, as several variables, such as trade issues, could affect elevator margins.
Steel and aluminum tariffs against Canada and Mexico remain a roadblock that would limit the impact of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Politico says the tariffs could prove to be a huge obstacle for congressional passage of the deal next year, as lawmakers have expressed displeasure with the duties remaining in place, despite a new trade agreement.