#MTGov Daily Rundown: Newly Discovered Emails Prove Bullock Illegally Deleted Public Records

When questioned about deleting his emails from his time as Attorney General, Governor Steve Bullock has maintained that he followed all proper procedures for the retention of public records. Since no emails exist, this implies that Bullock either clearly violated state law or he or his staff never used their official email accounts to conduct state business. However, emails have now surfaced proving that Bullock and his staff did conduct state business via their email accounts.

"When Governor Steve Bullock said recently the official emails from his time as Montana’s Attorney General no longer exist, some are now surfacing, and at least one state official is considering an investigation that could involve the upcoming legislative session." -KGVO, 11/6/2016


Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, has come forward with emails he exchanged between his organization and senior officials of then-Attorney General Bullock's office.

"On Saturday,  November 5, Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association issued a press release stating that a ‘smoking gun’ has surfaced that would contradict the Governor’s claims that those years of emails was missing." -KGVO, 11/6/2016

"In 2011, while Bullock was Attorney General, the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA) had litigation in process to validate the Montana Firearms Freedom Act in federal courts.  Montana, represented by the Montana Department of Justice (MtDoJ), became an intervenor in that case, MSSA v. Holder.  MSSA has archived email exchanges with senior staff at MtDoJ concerning that case, which was clearly official business for MtDoJ to participate in defending a law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.  MSSA is making these deleted-by-DoJ emails public." -MSSA press release, KGVO, 11/6/2016

Marbut states that these findings show that Montana needs a "serious dose of sunshine and integrity in government."

“We need a serious dose of sunshine and integrity in government.  The people should no longer tolerate any burning of records or wholesale deletion of emails in order to destroy possible evidence of backroom or illegal deals.  There is a good reason why the people have put the open records requirement into the Montana Constitution.  Destruction of public records is simply unacceptable.” -Gary Marbut, KGVO, 11/6/2016

Governor Steve Bullock is having major issues with emails. Like his preferred candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, Bullock has also been questioned for conducting state business on a private email account. More grave, however, is the fact that Bullock's emails from his time as Attorney General and those of his staff have been deleted in clear violation of state public records and records retention laws. State Sen. Kris Hansen, joined by Helena computer forensics expert Robin Jackson, held a press conference yesterday blasting Gov. Steve Bullock for illegally disposing of emails from his and his staff during his time as Attorney General.

"A Republican state senator was joined by computer forensics expert Wednesday in criticizing Gov. Steve Bullock for deleting emails from his days as governor." -Great Falls Tribune, 10/26/2016

Both Hansen and Jackson pointed to state law which clearly showed that Bullock had a responsibility to preserve public records including emails from his time as Attorney General.

"Robin Jackson, a Helena-based computer expert with WT Forensics, said Bullock and senior staff members had a responsibility to save the records." -Great Falls Tribune 10/26/2016

"Hansen said she had 'serious concerns' over the missing emails and criticized governor’s staff for deflecting blame by saying the state Legislature did not appropriate the money needed for records retention.

She said it was a violation of state law as outgoing officials are to give official records to successors. And, she noted, laws the outline records management duties." -Great Falls Tribune 10/26/2016

Montanans were treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

Jackson, joined by Nels Swandal, who spent nearly 20 years as a district judge published an op-ed earlier this month offering sharp criticism of Governor Steve Bullock for deleting his own emails and the emails of his staff from his time as Attorney General.

"Montanans expect their top law enforcement officer not only to enforce the law, but to follow the law. That's why Gov. Bullock’s mishandling of state emails as Attorney General is so disheartening.  

Recent reports reveal that, following his election as Governor, every email from Bullock’s four years as AG was deleted. All emails of his senior appointed staff were deleted. The email accounts were wiped clean." -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR 10/17/2016

Swandal and Jackson also point out that the deletion of the records violates Montana law

"State law defines most state emails as “public records.” Montana Code requires preservation of public records. Many are to be preserved even after the official leaves office. The law requires state employees to pass records, including emails, on to their successors. 

These laws fulfill Article II Section 9 of our Montana Constitution. “No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.” -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR, 10/17/2016

Bullock has been dealing with a "slow drip" of issues regarding how he is using both his state and private email since his 2nd lieutenant governor, Angela McLean, resigned her post unexpectedly last year.

"Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has used his private email account to communicate about a wide variety of official business from proposed legislation to his increasingly strained relationship with the former lieutenant governor, according to hundreds of pages of emails released Friday." -Great Falls Tribune, 5/6/2016 

"The newly released records shed more light on the strained relationship between McLean, Bullock and his staff. McLean complains to Bullock about her treatment by his budget director, Dan Villa, whom she said told her 'either you are on the team or you are not.' 

In May, the lieutenant governor wrote a letter to Bullock saying Chief of Staff Tracy Stone-Manning had confirmed that he was considering a different running mate for his 2016 re-election campaign. 'I guess I am learning ambition is a funny thing and realizing the full consequences of standing up for what you believe it right,' McLean wrote." -Great Falls Tribune, 5/6/2016 

"Hundreds of pages of documents, which were released Friday, show the democratic governor used his private account for official communications regarding his proposed state budget... legislation... and even lighting the state capitol at night. bullock previously told the associated press that he uses private email to communicate about political or election issues, but that government affairs are sometimes in those communications." -KFBB, 5/6/2016

#MTGov Election Weekend Edition: Speaker of the House Calls for Investigation into Bullock Emails

Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen is calling for a legislative investigation of what happened to Governor Steve Bullock's emails when he was Attorney General. Knudsen notes the fact that emails are missing means that state law was violated.

"House Speaker Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, held a news conference Thursday in which he said he will seek an investigation into allegedly “destroyed” emails by Bullock and eight senior staff members while he served as attorney general when the Legislature convenes in January." -Great Falls Tribune 11/4/2016
"Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen is wading into the Montana Governor's race.

"The fact is there are no emails from Governor Bullock or his 8 most senior staff from their entire tenure at the Attorney General's Office. That's in violation of state law." -MTN News, 11/3/2016

Governor Steve Bullock is having major issues with emails. Like his preferred candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, Bullock has also been questioned for conducting state business on a private email account. More grave, however, is the fact that Bullock's emails from his time as Attorney General and those of his staff have been deleted in clear violation of state public records and records retention laws. State Sen. Kris Hansen, joined by Helena computer forensics expert Robin Jackson, held a press conference yesterday blasting Gov. Steve Bullock for illegally disposing of emails from his and his staff during his time as Attorney General.

"A Republican state senator was joined by computer forensics expert Wednesday in criticizing Gov. Steve Bullock for deleting emails from his days as governor." -Great Falls Tribune, 10/26/2016

Both Hansen and Jackson pointed to state law which clearly showed that Bullock had a responsibility to preserve public records including emails from his time as Attorney General.

"Robin Jackson, a Helena-based computer expert with WT Forensics, said Bullock and senior staff members had a responsibility to save the records." -Great Falls Tribune 10/26/2016
"Hansen said she had 'serious concerns' over the missing emails and criticized governor’s staff for deflecting blame by saying the state Legislature did not appropriate the money needed for records retention.
She said it was a violation of state law as outgoing officials are to give official records to successors. And, she noted, laws the outline records management duties." -Great Falls Tribune 10/26/2016

Montanans were treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

Jackson, joined by Nels Swandal, who spent nearly 20 years as a district judge published an op-ed earlier this month offering sharp criticism of Governor Steve Bullock for deleting his own emails and the emails of his staff from his time as Attorney General.

"Montanans expect their top law enforcement officer not only to enforce the law, but to follow the law. That's why Gov. Bullock’s mishandling of state emails as Attorney General is so disheartening.
Recent reports reveal that, following his election as Governor, every email from Bullock’s four years as AG was deleted. All emails of his senior appointed staff were deleted. The email accounts were wiped clean." -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR 10/17/2016

Swandal and Jackson also point out that the deletion of the records violates Montana law.

"State law defines most state emails as “public records.” Montana Code requires preservation of public records. Many are to be preserved even after the official leaves office. The law requires state employees to pass records, including emails, on to their successors.
These laws fulfill Article II Section 9 of our Montana Constitution. “No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.” -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR, 10/17/2016

Bullock has been dealing with a "slow drip" of issues regarding how he is using both his state and private email since his 2nd lieutenant governor, Angela McLean, resigned her post unexpectedly last year.

"Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has used his private email account to communicate about a wide variety of official business from proposed legislation to his increasingly strained relationship with the former lieutenant governor, according to hundreds of pages of emails released Friday." -Great Falls Tribune, 5/6/2016 

"The newly released records shed more light on the strained relationship between McLean, Bullock and his staff. McLean complains to Bullock about her treatment by his budget director, Dan Villa, whom she said told her 'either you are on the team or you are not.' 

In May, the lieutenant governor wrote a letter to Bullock saying Chief of Staff Tracy Stone-Manning had confirmed that he was considering a different running mate for his 2016 re-election campaign. 'I guess I am learning ambition is a funny thing and realizing the full consequences of standing up for what you believe it right,' McLean wrote." -Great Falls Tribune, 5/6/2016 

"Hundreds of pages of documents, which were released Friday, show the democratic governor used his private account for official communications regarding his proposed state budget... legislation... and even lighting the state capitol at night. bullock previously told the associated press that he uses private email to communicate about political or election issues, but that government affairs are sometimes in those communications." -KFBB, 5/6/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Complaint Filed Over Bullock's Abuse of the State Plane

Ravalli County Resident Jason Ellsworth has filed a complaint against Steve's Bullock's campaign for its illegal use of the state plane for campaigning. The complaint was officially listed on the Commissioner of Political Practice’s website on Thursday. Ellsworth points out 16 different incidences where Bullock used the plane to fly to campaign events.

"Steve Bullock has repeatedly used the state airplane, King Air tail lumber NK28P, fly Steve Bullock to campaign fundraisers and rallies.

Steve Bullock's campaign has failed to reimburse the state for each flight, and, further, failed to reimburse the cost of the trips used for political events, on no less than 16 occasions all cited below." -Jason Ellsworth, COPP Complaint, Ellsworth v. Bullock

Ellsworth points out that previous reimbursements to the state are nowhere near the true cost of operating the plane and that many flights were not reimbursed at all.

Steve Bullock's most recent campaign reports show minimal reimbursement to the state without explanation of the events accounted for. The amount of reimbursement since July include 2 payments in previous finance reports for $2,964.25 and $1,155.56 or a total $4,119.81, a mere 13 percent of the cost owed the taxpayer. Flights between the period of July 28 to September 26 were not reimbursed. -Jason Ellsworth, COPP Complaint, Ellsworth v. Bullock

Bullock's behavior is illegal.

"This behavior is in clear violation of Mont. Code Ann 2-2-121-3 which states "a public officer or public employee may not use public time, facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, or funds to solicit support for or opposition to any political committee, the nomination or election of any person to public office for the passage of a ballot issue." -Jason Ellsworth, COPP Complaint, Ellsworth v. Bullock

Governor Bullock has continued to use the taxpayer funded state plane to fly to and from campaign events, his latest campaign finance report has shown.

"Montana Gov. Steve Bullock’s use of a state plane for campaigning continues, according to election finance reports in which his campaign paid the state $1,155 for airfare.

Campaign finance reports filed Monday by the Bullock Campaign with the Commissioner of Political Practices, didn’t go into detail about the expenses covered. 

But an invoice from the Office of the Governor included nine flights, for which the state requested Bullock’s campaign pay for pilot salaries and benefits associated with waiting for Bullock, a Democrat, to return from non-government events, such as fundraising. The invoice listed 15½ hours of pilot time, and the dates in which the hours were incurred." -Billings Gazette, 8/2/2016 

The governor's office REFUSED to disclose the details of the flights, such as where the plane was flown, or the official events or campaign events during those uses of the plane.

"The governor’s office didn’t disclose what, if any, official purpose the flight had, or where the government airplane was flown, or the campaign events for which the pilot’s shift was extended." -Billings Gazette, 8/2/2016

Governor Bullock was caught earlier this year abusing his state plane privileges again, as it emerged that he flew in the state plane to Missoula for a Paul McCartney concert.

“After a row over inappropriate uses of the state airplane, Montana Governor Steve Bullock is now being asked if that plane was used for personal enjoyment. Flight logs indicate that the state plane landed at Missoula International Airport at 4:03 P.M., just about an hour before the doors were open to the public at the Paul McCartney concert on August 5, 2014. The concert was possibly the highest profile music event in Montana’s history and many high-profile attendees were in the crowd, including Montana Governor Steve Bullock.”  -KGVO, 7/8/2016

Bullock's payment of $1,155 also raises questions about how the governor is calculating repayments, as legislators have stated that the cost of operating the plane is $1,650 for a single hour. Republican Party Chairman Jeff Essmann notes that the governor's controversial use of the plane to attend a rock concert in Missoula would alone cost more than $15,000.

"Chairman Jeff Essmann of the Montana Republican Party called on Governor Bullock today to fully reimburse taxpayers for using the State plane to attend the Paul McCartney concert at a cost of $15,255.00:

“While Bullock lived the high-life attending cocktail parties and enjoying the Paul McCartney concert, Montana taxpayers were stuck paying his tab,” said Chairman Jeff Essmann. “Now, it is illegal for Bullock to selectively choose which campaign flights to pay back, and it is illegal for Bullock to not pay the true value of his campaign travels. He’s abusing his power and his behavior runs contrary to the Montana values we expect to see in our elected officials.” -Montana GOP, 8/3/2016

The Billings Gazette editorial board hammered Governor Steve Bullock for his abuse of the state aircraft.

"Residents are right to question whether they're underwriting the campaigning costs of the governor. Many of the trips Bullock went on seemed contrived or PR stunts more than state legitimate business, which made the entire situation feel like he was gaming the system." -Billings Gazette, 9/1/2016

"But more recent reporting shows another raft of questionable trips, including one in which he tried convincing Montanans that seeing Sir Paul McCartney was the state's business and that McCartney had requested a special audience with Bullock.

Being caught again using the state plane either demonstrates arrogance or a tone-deafness about the issue. What's even more is that Bullock recently used the state plane to hop over to Deer Lodge, less than a 60-mile trip from Helena. We'd venture to guess it took longer to get the plane ready than it did to make the quick journey. We understand that the governor's time as the state's chief executive is valuable, but is it so precious that such a small time savings and large expense of a plane makes it pencil out? " -Billings Gazette, 9/1/2016

The Gazette also noted that Bullock's reimbursement of the state was a paltry amount given the true operating cost of the plane.

"Yet, when follow-up reporting was done, the reimbursement for these trips was anemic and represented a token of the expense of using the expensive state plane." -Billings Gazette, 9/1/2016

#MTGov Daily Rundown: With Bullock Admin Retaliating Against Whistleblowers, Gianforte Proposes New Protections

This week, Greg Gianforte proposed new whistleblower protections for state employees as more information comes out showing that the Bullock Administration has been retaliating against whistle blowers.

"We have great state employees here in Montana. And when they shine a light on corruption and mismanagement in state government, they should be put on a pedestal- not kicked to the curb. That’s why I think it is vital that we implement a whistle blower protection plan once I’m elected governor.” -Greg Gianforte

Gianforte has proposed 3 concrete steps to make it easier for whistleblowers to come forward:

1. Enforce current whistle blower protection laws on the books (WDEA: Wrongful Discharge From Employment Act) in MT, which the current Governor clearly is not.
    
2. Set up a Whistle blower protection hotline - where any state employee can call and offer their complaint, without fear of retaliation. The hotline service will report directly to the Office of Government Accountability, so that complaints are not lost in bureaucracy.
    
3. As part of the Office of Government Accountability, solicit input from the state employees on ways to create a culture of customer service in state government, including finding efficiencies.

Earlier this week, yet another person from within the Bullock Administration has come forward claiming she was retaliated against for raising issues with agency decisions. The employee is Lonie Stimac, who formerly worked as a Commerce Department Bureau Chief.

"A longtime Commerce Department employee has filed complaints against the state, alleging she faced a demotion and retaliation for questioning decisions within the agency, MTN News has learned.   

Lonie Stimac, a former Commerce Department bureau chief who now works in the state Office of Tourism and Business Development, said Monday she was reassigned in 2015 after an office reorganization and had her pay cut $17,000 this year." -MTN News 10/31/2016

Stimac claims that, after raised her objections, she was demoted to another department and put in storage closet for her office.

"Stimac said she sometimes raised objections about the direction of the office. For example, she said she questioned the timing of a trade mission to China and whether the Office and Tourism and Office of Business Resources should be merged, and financed with lodging tax revenue.

As the merger occurred, Stimac said she was informed in April 2015 that she would be relieved of her bureau chief duties and transferred to the job of sales and constituent services in tourism.

“When I showed up (for the new job), nobody knew I was coming,” she said. “I had no office. They put me in a storage room. I had to make arrangements to be moved over and to get my own phone.” -MTN News 10/31/2016


Last week, news broke that former DPHHS Audit Bureau Chief filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, because she refused to violate the law and make improper payments.

"The state has been hit with a wrongful termination lawsuit from a former employee of the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services.

Carol Bondy, the the former Audit Bureau Chief of DPHHS, claims she was fired after refusing to violate several public policies, despite being directed to do so by DPHHS." -MTN News, 10/25/2016


The article notes that Bondy cried foul over a payment that was being made to a contractor with strong ties to the Democratic Party.

Bondy was concerned about the Montana PEAKS (Performers in Education and Acquisition Knowledge Systems) contract. She says this group was given a contract even though the Audit Bureau had advised management the contractor was not entitled to payment.

The lawsuit states: “Bondy expressed her concerns that the payment was improperly being made because this particular contractor had strong political ties to the Democratic Party.” -MTN News, 10/25/2016


DeAnne Cooney, wife of Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney, has now recused herself from the lawsuit due to a potential conflict of interest. 

"District Judge DeeAnn Cooney has recused herself from presiding over a wrongful discharge lawsuit filed by a former state auditor against the State of Montana, her clerk confirmed in a Wednesday email.

Cooney was appointed to the job by Gov. Steve Bullock in December upon the retirement of Judge Jeffrey Sherlock, and is running for election to hold that seat. She also is the wife of Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, whom Bullock appointed a couple of months later.

The case in question involves allegations leveled broadly at the governor and his staff." -Helena IR, 10/26/2016

Other DPHHS auditors who are tasked with holding state agencies accountable have accused administration officials of retaliating against them for doing their job.

"Former Montana auditors have accused state officials of discouraging Department of Health and Human Services staffers from investigating a variety of questioned payments dating back to 2005." -Helena IR, 9/11/2016

"Emails from current and former DPHHS staffers, along with court filings and whistleblower complaints obtained by the Independent Record, identified at least seven long-tenured state employees who raised red flags before they were demoted or fired. At least three staffers who raised questions were accused of insubordination before being fired. 

Two of those staffers claim high-level administrators, acting on orders from Bullock, pushed through “questionable” welfare payments to important Democratic voting blocs on Indian reservations and ignored DPHHS auditors’ questions about hefty checks cut to major welfare program contractors. Bullock, through a spokeswoman, flatly denied those claims." -Helena IR, 9/11/2016

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported earlier this month that the Bullock Administration has paid more than $900,000  to settle employee claims. The administration refuses to say why in most cases, and at least one legal expert says that the administration is violating the law.

"Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s administration has paid more than $900,000 in settlements to state employees over the last three years, according to public records. On most, state agencies won’t say why.

The state has paid 42 employees settlements totaling more than $745,000. Each is listed as 'confidential' in the state’s checkbook, which has been published online since 2013, the year Bullock first took office. The payments range in amounts from $120 to $122,000." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016


One former employee said that the settlements were, at times used to cover up misdeeds and prevent whistleblowing.

"One former employee who received a large settlement payment said, in some cases, state agencies use the confidential payments to cover up misdeeds." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016

"A former state employee, speaking to the Chronicle on the condition of anonymity for fear of being sued by the state, said they were fired in 2015 after nearly 10 years on the job. The state agency cited mandatory staff reductions in the termination. The former employee filed a complaint with the Human Rights Bureau that alleged discrimination.

'Less than 24 hours later (the agency) called and offered a settlement,' the former state employee said. The settlement amount, more than $50,000, was contingent in part upon a contract to never disclose the settlement. And the former state employee believes that the firing was in retaliation for whistleblower activities." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016

Bullock also had his 2nd lieutenant governor resign under mysterious circumstances.

Gov. Steve Bullock and his administration had a strained relationship with Lt. Gov. Angela McLean and had considered replacing her on the 2016 ticket since early this year, according to internal emails and top Bullock staffers. Emails obtained late this week by MTN News also showed that McLean had become largely isolated on the job by early October, when she was locked out of her official Twitter account, excluded from office meetings, and stripped of her initiatives." -MTN News, 12/11/2015

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Another Bullock Admin Whistleblower Comes Forward

Yet another person from within the Bullock Administration has come forward claiming she was retaliated against for raising issues with agency decisions. The employee is Lonie Stimac, who formerly worked as a Commerce Department Bureau Chief.

"A longtime Commerce Department employee has filed complaints against the state, alleging she faced a demotion and retaliation for questioning decisions within the agency, MTN News has learned.   

Lonie Stimac, a former Commerce Department bureau chief who now works in the state Office of Tourism and Business Development, said Monday she was reassigned in 2015 after an office reorganization and had her pay cut $17,000 this year." -MTN News 10/31/2016


Stimac claims that, after raised her objections, she was demoted to another department and put in storage closet for her office.

"Stimac said she sometimes raised objections about the direction of the office. For example, she said she questioned the timing of a trade mission to China and whether the Office and Tourism and Office of Business Resources should be merged, and financed with lodging tax revenue.

As the merger occurred, Stimac said she was informed in April 2015 that she would be relieved of her bureau chief duties and transferred to the job of sales and constituent services in tourism.

“When I showed up (for the new job), nobody knew I was coming,” she said. “I had no office. They put me in a storage room. I had to make arrangements to be moved over and to get my own phone.” -MTN News 10/31/2016


Last week, news broke that former DPHHS Audit Bureau Chief filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, because she refused to violate the law and make improper payments.

"The state has been hit with a wrongful termination lawsuit from a former employee of the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services.

Carol Bondy, the the former Audit Bureau Chief of DPHHS, claims she was fired after refusing to violate several public policies, despite being directed to do so by DPHHS." -MTN News, 10/25/2016


The article notes that Bondy cried foul over a payment that was being made to a contractor with strong ties to the Democratic Party.

Bondy was concerned about the Montana PEAKS (Performers in Education and Acquisition Knowledge Systems) contract. She says this group was given a contract even though the Audit Bureau had advised management the contractor was not entitled to payment.

The lawsuit states: “Bondy expressed her concerns that the payment was improperly being made because this particular contractor had strong political ties to the Democratic Party.” -MTN News, 10/25/2016


DeAnne Cooney, wife of Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney, has now recused herself from the lawsuit due to a potential conflict of interest. 

"District Judge DeeAnn Cooney has recused herself from presiding over a wrongful discharge lawsuit filed by a former state auditor against the State of Montana, her clerk confirmed in a Wednesday email.

Cooney was appointed to the job by Gov. Steve Bullock in December upon the retirement of Judge Jeffrey Sherlock, and is running for election to hold that seat. She also is the wife of Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, whom Bullock appointed a couple of months later.

The case in question involves allegations leveled broadly at the governor and his staff." -Helena IR, 10/26/2016

Other DPHHS auditors who are tasked with holding state agencies accountable have accused administration officials of retaliating against them for doing their job.

"Former Montana auditors have accused state officials of discouraging Department of Health and Human Services staffers from investigating a variety of questioned payments dating back to 2005." -Helena IR, 9/11/2016

"Emails from current and former DPHHS staffers, along with court filings and whistleblower complaints obtained by the Independent Record, identified at least seven long-tenured state employees who raised red flags before they were demoted or fired. At least three staffers who raised questions were accused of insubordination before being fired. 

Two of those staffers claim high-level administrators, acting on orders from Bullock, pushed through “questionable” welfare payments to important Democratic voting blocs on Indian reservations and ignored DPHHS auditors’ questions about hefty checks cut to major welfare program contractors. Bullock, through a spokeswoman, flatly denied those claims." -Helena IR, 9/11/2016

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported earlier this month that the Bullock Administration has paid more than $900,000  to settle employee claims. The administration refuses to say why in most cases, and at least one legal expert says that the administration is violating the law.

"Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock’s administration has paid more than $900,000 in settlements to state employees over the last three years, according to public records. On most, state agencies won’t say why.

The state has paid 42 employees settlements totaling more than $745,000. Each is listed as 'confidential' in the state’s checkbook, which has been published online since 2013, the year Bullock first took office. The payments range in amounts from $120 to $122,000." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016


One former employee said that the settlements were, at times used to cover up misdeeds and prevent whistle blowing.

"One former employee who received a large settlement payment said, in some cases, state agencies use the confidential payments to cover up misdeeds." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016

"A former state employee, speaking to the Chronicle on the condition of anonymity for fear of being sued by the state, said they were fired in 2015 after nearly 10 years on the job. The state agency cited mandatory staff reductions in the termination. The former employee filed a complaint with the Human Rights Bureau that alleged discrimination.

'Less than 24 hours later (the agency) called and offered a settlement,' the former state employee said. The settlement amount, more than $50,000, was contingent in part upon a contract to never disclose the settlement. And the former state employee believes that the firing was in retaliation for whistleblower activities." -Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 10/13/2016


Bullock also had his 2nd lieutenant governor resign under mysterious circumstances.

Gov. Steve Bullock and his administration had a strained relationship with Lt. Gov. Angela McLean and had considered replacing her on the 2016 ticket since early this year, according to internal emails and top Bullock staffers. Emails obtained late this week by MTN News also showed that McLean had become largely isolated on the job by early October, when she was locked out of her official Twitter account, excluded from office meetings, and stripped of her initiatives." -MTN News, 12/11/2015

#MTGov Daily Rundown: Will Bullock stand by Hillary Clinton?

News broke last week that Hillary Clinton is back under investigation after the FBI found new emails that "appear to be pertinent" issue of Clinton conducting national business (including sending classified information) on a private email account and server.

"The FBI revealed Friday it was reviewing a new batch of emails that "appear to be pertinent" to its previous investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private server — and multiple federal officials told NBC News they were found as part of an on-going probe of disgraced former New York congressman Anthony Weiner." -NBC News, 10/28/2016

"'In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation,' Comey wrote. 'I agreed that the FBI should take appropriate investigative steps designed to allow investigators to review these emails to determine whether they contain classified information, as well as to assess their importance to our investigation.' -NBC News, 10/28/2016


Given the unprecedented fact that a major party candidate is under investigation for allegedly violating multiple federal laws, the question must be asked: Will Governor Bullock continue to support Hillary Clinton?

Bullock and Hillary actually have quite a bit in common when it comes to Emails and their proposed policies.

Emails:

Montanans were treated to the shocking news that all of the emails on state accounts from Governor Steve Bullock's 2009-2013 term as Attorney General have been destroyed. This is despite emails clearly being considered "public record" in state law and guidance from the Secretary of State's office that public officials turn over their emails to the state archives when they leave office.

“Note the email accounts for former Attorney General Steve Bullock and his appointed staff members no longer exist, so neither the accounts nor their archives are available to search,’ he wrote. Blixseth has asked state officials for a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which they followed proper protocols and requested destruction of emails." -Great Falls Tribune, 8/31/2016

Jackson, joined by Nels Swandal, who spent nearly 20 years as a district judge published an op-ed earlier this month offering sharp criticism of Governor Steve Bullock for deleting his own emails and the emails of his staff from his time as Attorney General.

"Montanans expect their top law enforcement officer not only to enforce the law, but to follow the law. That's why Gov. Bullock’s mishandling of state emails as Attorney General is so disheartening.

Recent reports reveal that, following his election as Governor, every email from Bullock’s four years as AG was deleted. All emails of his senior appointed staff were deleted. The email accounts were wiped clean." -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR 10/17/2016


Swandal and Jackson also point out that the deletion of the records violates Montana law.

"State law defines most state emails as “public records.” Montana Code requires preservation of public records. Many are to be preserved even after the official leaves office. The law requires state employees to pass records, including emails, on to their successors.

These laws fulfill Article II Section 9 of our Montana Constitution. “No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.” -Nels Swandal and Robin Jackson, Helena IR, 10/17/2016

2nd Amendment:

Hillary Clinton is one of the most anti-2nd Amendment politicians to ever run for or hold public office. She has a long history of fighting against the right to keep and bear arms and the National Rife Association has consistently given her a "F" grade. While Governor Bullock claims to support the 2nd Amendment, his endorsement of Hillary Clinton should be enough to call that into question.

Hillary Clinton has refused to state that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right. -ABC, 6/5/2016

She has stated her support for an assault weapons ban, a ban on high-capacity magazines, and stated that lawful gun owners "hold a viewpoint that terrorizes the majority of people." -CNN, 6/18/2014)

She has praised large scale gun confiscation schemes that have occurred in nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom. -Huffington Post, 10/16/2015

She has called for Americans to be stripped of their 2nd Amendment rights without due process based on their name appearing on the highly mistake prone No Fly List.  -CNN, 12/5/2016

In addition to his endorsement of Hillary Clinton, Governor Bullock quietly amassed his own anti-2nd Amendment track record. During his tenure, the governor has vetoed multiple bills that would have enhanced the right of Montanans to keep and bear arms.

"The Senate also passed a measure to prohibit local law enforcement from assisting in the enforcement of future federal gun laws. Both bills passed on party-line votes.

They face another vote Thursday before heading to Governor Bullock, who vetoed similar legislation in the 2013 session." -MTN News, 3/11/2015

"Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock on Friday vetoed a pair of Republican-sponsored gun rights bills, including one that would allow almost any adult to carry a concealed weapon in Montana without a permit." -Missoulian, 3/27/2015

One of those bills would have pushed back against President Obama's unconstitutional executive overreach on guns. Bullock vetoed the bill. However, AFTER Obama actually issued an executive order on guns, Bullock criticized the decision.

"Bullock also vetoed HB203, which would prohibit any state or local officials in Montana from enforcing any future federal restrictions on gun or weapon magazine ownership." -Missoulian 3/27/2015

"But this discussion is too important for the President to circumvent Congress with the stroke of a pen.” -Billings Gazette, 1/5/2016

Coal:

Hillary Clinton’s anti-coal agenda:

“…we’re gonna put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business”-Hillary Clinton, on CNN, 3/13/2016

Clinton has said that the country has to move away from coal.

"We need to move away from coal. Everybody understands that. There's no doubt about it." -Hillary Clinton event with the League of Conservation Voters, 11/9/2015

Hillary Clinton has called the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan, which threatens thousands of Montana jobs, "the floor not the ceiling, and promised to go further." Even to the point of using illegal executive orders to bypass Congress.

"Clinton called the plan 'the floor, not the ceiling,' and said she would go further.
Her plan contemplates using executive orders if Congress tried to block her proposals." -Washington Post, 8/2/2015

Meanwhile Governor Bullock will not stand up for Montana's coal industry. Last month, his office did not even send a representative to a hearing on a bill sponsored by Rep. Zinke and Sen. Daines that seeks to protect Montana coal jobs.

“Gov. Steve Bullock did not send anyone to the hearing.

Zinke spokeswoman Heather Swift said their office was surprised the governor didn’t want to be involved, saying he has voiced support in the past and has been opposed to federal moratoriums.

‘As far as his motivation we’re completely clueless as to why they wouldn’t want to participate,’ she said.” -Great Falls Tribune 6/15/2016



This is after Bullock waited until the last minute (under pressure from Gianforte) to call on Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to veto a bill that paves the way for the shutdown of the Colstrip Power Plant AFTER first saying he wouldn’t demand a veto.

“Bullock isn’t likely to veto the bill.” -MTN News, 3/15/2016

FLIP-FLOP:

“Montana Gov. Steve Bullock last week asked Inslee to veto the bill over concerns about its effect on Montana.” -Seattle Times, 4/3/2016

Last year, Bullock refused to support Attorney General Tim Fox’s lawsuit against the Obama/EPA Clean Power Plan which threatens thousands of Montana jobs.

“A statement issued by Governor Steve Bullock didn’t say whether he thinks the lawsuit is a good idea.” -Montana Public Radio, 10/23/2015

Early in the year, after the U.S. Supreme Court put a stay on the Obama/EPA Clean Power Plan, Bullock simply suspended his Clean Power Plan Advisory Council.

"Montana Gov. Steve Bullock on Tuesday suspended the work of a panel appointed to address new federal carbon dioxide emissions rules after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the key component of President Barack Obama’s climate change plan.” -Associated Press 2/9/2016

A big issue is for Bullock is that his campaign has taken a combined thousands of dollars from environmental activists with the Montana Environmental Information Center and the Sierra Club of Montana. Both groups sued to shut down Colstrip Units 1 and 2.

 "'The firm MEIC that actually pursued this lawsuit against Colstrip, their board members have written checks, five of them have written checks to Gov. Bullock’s campaign,' Gianforte said. 'He’s bought and paid for by special interests that shut down Montana jobs.'”

Campaign records show Gianforte’s allegation is true." -Billings Gazette, 7/13/2016

VIDEO: "What are they hiding?"