Koster
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - The Republican challenger in the race for Missouri Attorney General is questioning the timing of a campaign contribution made to incumbent Chris Koster.
Ed Martin said Koster is engaging in corrupt pay-to-play activities as attorney general after seeing a $10,000 donation made by Express Scripts only two days after Koster met with the company's executives.
A state expense report says Koster traveled from Jefferson City to St. Louis on Aug. 20, 2011, for a "Meeting with Express Scripts Executives."
"Chris Koster needs to stop the corrupt use of people's money for his campaign fundraising. Enough is enough. Return the money now, Mr. Koster," Martin said.
Three years earlier, the pharmacy benefits management company settled with 29 states, including Missouri, to resolve claims of deceptive business practices.
Earlier this year, a coalition of public interest groups asked state attorneys general to block a $29 billion merger with Medco Health Solutions. In October 2011, Koster's office said it was reviewing the merger.
Ultimately, the merger won the approval of federal regulators in April.
In a press release, Martin pointed at a June audit conducted by state Auditor Tom Schweich that said Koster had received $170,000 in contributions from law firms actively bidding on state contracts.
Koster campaign manager Rachel Levine told The Associated Press the meeting and donation were from two entirely different trips.
From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien at jobrienwv@gmail.com.