STATEMENT BY MISSOURI RISING ON HILLARY CLINTON’S VISIT TO ST. LOUIS TODAY, CONNECTIONS

TO FELLOW ETHICALLY-CHALLENGED AG CHRIS KOSTER

Friday, December 11, 2015Contact: Brian Rogersbrogers@arsquared.org

Missouri Rising Executive Director Brian Rogers released the following statement on Hillary Clinton’s visit to St. Louis today:

“When it comes to questionable ethics, Hillary Clinton and Chris Koster are as thick as thieves,” said Missouri Rising Executive Director Brian Rogers. “Both Clinton and Koster have been the subject of high-profile investigations of their fundraising and professional ethics, and Koster is even a major donor to Secretary Clinton’s scandal-plagued foundation. The issue of ethics in government is a major concern for Missourians, and Clinton and Koster have proven they can’t be trusted.”

Missouri Rising is a 501(c)(4) organization focusing on the issues most pressing to Missourians by investigating and holding liberal groups accountable, fact-checking liberal policy initiatives, and making sure citizens have the most up-to-date information to help drive the conversation in the Show Me State. Missouri Rising’s website is: www.missourirising.org

THE CLINTON-KOSTER CONNECTION

Koster Has Been Compared To Clinton For His “Reputation For Opportunistic Politics And Questionable Fundraising”

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “But Koster, Like Clinton, Also Has A Reputation For Opportunistic Politics And Questionable Fundraising.” (Kevin McDermott, “GOP Field For Missouri Governor Grows,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/4/15)

Koster Is A Clinton Foundation Donor And Member Of Clinton’s Missouri Leadership Council

Koster Has Given Between $10,000 And $25,000 To The Clinton Foundation. (Contributor And Grantor Information, Clinton Foundation, Accessed 10/29/15)

In November 2015, Koster Was Named To Clinton’s “Hillary For Missouri Leadership Council.” “Attorney General Chris Koster, who is running for governor, also is included, as is state Auditor Nicole Galloway.”

(Chuck Raasch, “More Than 60 Prominent Missouri Democrats Supporting Clinton,” St. Louis Patch-Dispatch, 11/12/15)

KOSTER’S ETHICS SCANDALS

In 2014, Koster Was The Centerpiece Of A Pulitzer-Prize Winning New York Times Investigation About His Relationship With Lobbyists

In October 2014, The New York Times Ran A “Stinging Report” On Koster Detailing The Way He And Other Attorneys General Interact With Lawyers And Lobbyists Of Companies That They Challenge In Court. “On Wednesday, a story appeared above the fold in the national edition of the New York Times featuring Koster in a stinging report detailing the way he and other attorneys general interact with the lawyers and lobbyists representing companies that they often challenge in court.” (Eli Yokley, “Koster Comes Under Fire,” The Joplin Globe, 10/31/14)

·      “The Report Highlighted Accusations Of Influence Peddling At Exotic Resorts Coupled With Large Contributions To The Campaign Accounts Of Many Of The Nation’s Chief Law Enforcement Officers.” (Eli Yokley, “Koster Comes Under Fire,” The Joplin Globe, 10/31/14)

The New York Times Used Koster As “Its Lead Example Of How Attorneys General Around The Country Pull Punches When It Comes To Investigating Companies That Donate To Their Campaigns.” “The New York Times last year used him as its lead example of how attorneys general around the country pull punches when it comes to investigating companies that donate to their campaigns. The article - part of a series that won a Pulitzer Prize last month - is virtually guaranteed to become campaign fodder for whomever emerges with the GOP nomination from the primary on Aug. 2, 2016.” (Kevin McDermott, “GOP Field For Missouri Governor Grows,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/4/15)

Dickstein Shapiro Lawyers Donated To Koster’s Campaigns, Invited Him To Be A Featured Speaker At Law Firm Events, Hosted Him At Dinners, And “Relationship Seems To Have Benefited Some Dickstein Clients.” “The Dickstein lawyers have donated to his campaigns, invited him and his chief deputy to be featured speakers at law firm events and hosted Mr. Koster at dinners, and stayed in close contact with his office in emails that suggest unusual familiarity. The relationship seems to have benefited some Dickstein clients.” (Eric Lipton, “Lobbyists, Bearing Gifts, Pursue Attorneys General,” The New York Times, 10/28/14)

·       Read The New York Times Investigation Here

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Called Koster’s Relationship With Corporate Lobbyists “Galling” And Said Koster’s Response To The

Report Was “Arrogant And Dismissive”

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial: “But The Warmth Of The Coziness Between Mr. Koster And The Lobbyists Representing Companies He Was Suing Is Particularly Galling.” (Editorial, “Stench Of Rotten Eggs Hangs Over Koster And Missouri’s Political System,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/31/14)

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board: Koster’s Response To The Times Story “Was Arrogant And Dismissive.” “His response to the Times story, on the other hand, was arrogant and dismissive, blaming the Times for setting out a clear timeline that can’t help but create the appearance of impropriety.” (Editorial, “Stench Of Rotten Eggs Hangs Over Koster And Missouri’s Political System,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/31/14)

In 2008, Koster Was Accused Of Channeling Over-The-Limit Campaign Contributions Via Email

A 2008 Report By The Associated Press “Accused Koster Of Orchestrating Complex Transfers Between Campaign Committees That May Have Violated State Law.” “An Associated Press report earlier this month accused Koster of orchestrating complex transfers between campaign committees that may have violated state law.” (Jason Noble, “Democrats Battle In Missouri Attorney General Race,” The Kansas City Star, 7/28/08)

The Associated Press Reported That Koster’s Campaign “Orchestrated The Channeling Of $450,000 In Over-The-Limit Campaign Contributions” To A PAC Supporting Koster. “The Koster attacks were heightened earlier this month after the Associated Press reported Koster’s campaign orchestrated the channeling of $450,000 in over-the-limit campaign contributions through an independent political action committee apparently created for the sole purpose of moving money into Koster’s campaign coffers.” (Chad Livengood, “Democrats Vie To Replace Jay Nixon,” Springfield News-Leader, 7/28/08)

CLINTON’S ETHICS SCANDALS

Clinton Has Faced Similar Damaging Ethical Headlines

Washington Post Headline: “Foreign Donations To Foundation Raise Major Ethical Questions For Hillary Clinton” (Jennifer Rubin, “Foreign Donations To Foundation Raise Major Ethical Questions For Hillary Clinton,” The Washington Post’s Right Turn, 2/18/15)

United Press International Headline: “Most Americans Think Clinton’s Email Use Illegal, Unethical” (Ed Adamczyk, “Most Americans Think Clinton’s Email Use Illegal, Unethical,” United Press International, 11/13/15)

The Nation Headline: “Hillary Clinton’s Ethical Challenge” (Stephen Gillers, “Hillary Clinton’s Ethical Challenge,” The Nation, 6/9/15)

Washington Examiner Headline: “Clintons Faced Hundreds Of Ethics Probes When Hillary Clinton Was In Office” (Sarah Westwood, “Clintons Faced Hundreds Of Ethics Probes When Hillary Clinton Was In Office,” Washington Examiner, 2/19/15)

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