Lori Swanson (D)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline)-Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson's office paid $15,000 in taxpayer money for two soundproof doors for the Democrat's private work area.
WCCO-TV reported Wednesday that the doors were custom-finished to match the oak woodwork in her office. A spokesman reportedly told the station that the doors are sand-reinforced for security purposes.
"They are heavy-duty, locked, sand-reinforced doors for security purposes," the spokesman was quoted by the TV station as saying.
But papers obtained by WCCO-TV indicate that the 1-3/8-inch doors are not for security, but for soundproofing.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who works across the hall from the attorney general, does not have an office outfitted with soundproof doors, the CBS affiliate reported.
Since 2006, nearly $400,000 of repairs and alterations have been done to the attorney general's office at her offices in downtown St. Paul, the station noted.
Much of the remodeling work was ordered by Swanson's predecessor, fellow Democrat Mike Hatch.
From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.