Republican group files complaint against Galloway, alleges misuse of taxpayer money
A Republican not-for-profit group has filed a complaint against Missouri state auditor and gubernatorial candidate Nicole Galloway, claiming she improperly used taxpayer funds to advance her campaign.
Liberty Alliance USA announced late last week that it objected to a June 3, 2019 guest opinion piece Galloway submitted to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch denouncing the then-new state law banning abortions even in the case of rape, incest or human trafficking. The law, signed by Gov. Mike Parson, gave “new rights and opportunities to rapists,” Galloway wrote.
The piece was sent to the newspaper by Galloway’s press secretary, whose salary is paid by the state. Two months after publication, Galloway announced her intention to run for governor.
Liberty Alliance asked Missouri Secretary of State John Ashcroft to investigate.
“These efforts had nothing to do with her constitutional duties as the state auditor and everything to do with her positioning herself for higher office,” Liberty Alliance executive director Chris Vas said in a statement.
Eric Slusher, a spokesman for Galloway’s campaign, told the Post-Dispatch that Liberty Alliance USA’s accusations were unfounded.
“It is frankly offensive and absurd that this organization would suggest that the only woman elected to statewide office in Missouri cannot use her voice and opine on matters of importance in Missouri,” Slusher told the Post-Dispatch.
Ashcroft looked into a similar complaint against Republican Sen. Josh Hawley in 2018 following a grievance from the non-profit American Democracy Legal Fund. In January 2019, Ashcroft ended that investigation, saying his office could not find evidence that Hawley had violated election laws.
