Blunt's Conflict of Interest

Honorable Alberto R. Gonzales
Attorney General of the United States
Department of Justice
Room 4400
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear Mr. Attorney General:

It has recently been reported that United States Attorney Todd Graves and his family will personally benefit from no-bid state contracts valued at more than $3.6 million given by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. This raises serious ethical and legal questions concerning Mr. Graves ability to perform his job, which includes investigating and prosecuting public corruption in federal, state and local government, including the Blunt administration, those who might attempt to influence the Blunt administration, or Blunts father, the United States Congressman from Missouris 7th District.

Awarding these contracts to the Graves family effectively undermines any attempt by the United States Attorneys Office to investigate claims of public corruption as they did against former Speaker of the House Bob Griffin or Attorney General William Webster.

This should be a bipartisan concern.

We respectfully ask the United States Department of Justice to investigate this matter and take all necessary steps, including removing Mr. Graves from office, to uphold the integrity of the state and federal government and the hardworking Assistant United States Attorneys, FBI agents and IRS agents.

On Feb. 9, 2005 the Blunt administration announced that Tracy Graves, wife of United States Attorney Todd Graves, had been given a no-bid contract to run the second most lucrative motor vehicle fee office in Missouri, located in Gladstone. As the fee agent, Tracy Graves will gross more than $2.6 million over the next four years of Governor Blunts term. US Attorney Todd Graves brother-in-law, Todd Bartles, was also awarded a $1 million no-bid contract to run the Sugar Creek Motor Vehicle Fee Office.

In addition, two congressional staffers to Congressmen Sam Graves, who is the brother of United States Attorney Todd Graves, were also given no-bid contracts, even as they continue to be on the Federal Governments payroll. Congressman Sam Graves Deputy Chief of Staff Dean Brookshier was given a no-bid contract to run the Chillicothe office and Field Representative Naomi Boss was awarded the Keytesville office.

This arrangement goes far beyond the appearance of impropriety. One could reasonably argue that this lucrative contract will ensure that the Blunt administration is never investigated for corruption or wrongdoing as long as United States Attorney Graves and his family are personally getting rich off of the administration.

We also strongly feel that United States Attorney Todd Graves has violated the U.S. Department of Justices Standards of Conduct, specifically section 1-4.320, which states:

Conflicts of Interest. Employees may not engage in outside activities that create or appear to create a conflict of interest with their official duties. Such a conflict exists when the outside activity would: (1) require the recusal of the employee from significant aspects of his or her official duties (5 C.F.R. 2635.802(b)); (2) create an appearance that the employee's official duties were performed in a biased or less than impartial manner (5 C.F.R. 2635.502); or (3) create an appearance of official sanction or endorsement (5 C.F.R. 2635.702(b)).

It is our sincere hope that you would obtain all correspondence, including emails and phone records, between the Graves family, the Blunt transition team and the Blunt administration in connection with these arrangements. It is essential to know who approached whom in regards to this arrangement and what promises were made.

An added concern is the fact that in his official capacity, United States Attorney Graves also was a member of the interview and hiring team for the Missouri Department of Public Safety Director. This was an official governmental body that was responsible for the review of applicants and the selection of the final panel of nominees to the Governor. Such participation now makes it impossible for United States Attorney Graves to effectively investigate or prosecute misconduct by the Department of Public Safety in the expenditure of federal dollars, including Homeland Security Funds.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this request. We believe the people of Missouri will benefit greatly from a thorough investigation into this matter so that we can restore integrity to our system of government.