JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (AP) -- Missouri Governor Blunt is ducking questions about a lawsuit alleging his office deleted e-mails in violation of open-records laws.
But the Republican governor is defending the firing of the former staff attorney who sued him.
The whistle blower and defamation lawsuit was filed Wednesday by former Blunt attorney Scott Eckersley. He claims top Blunt aides directed staff in his office and other agencies to destroy e-mails to avoid providing information sought under public records requests.
Thursday, Blunt refused to either confirm or deny whether those directives were given, whether he was aware of the orders at the time or whether he approved of the e-mail deletions.
Blunt said he would not respond to accusations in a lawsuit and walked away as reporters continued to ask him questions at a Capitol news conference.
Blunt did say Eckersley's dismissal was lawful.
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