Reply #11: More on Todd P. Graves

[phoebe]

http://www.firedupmissouri.com/todd_graves_to_resign

Sources tell Fired Up! that Todd P. Graves, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, will be resigning his position.

Through his spokesman, Don Ledford, U.S. Attorney Graves declined to comment for this story.

Speculation in Jefferson City was rampant over the reasons for Graves decision. The most popular theory is that he fears that there may be investigations coming before his office that he would find personally uncomfortable to oversee. He might also be concerned about having to suffer the public embarassment of recusing himself from very important cases because of his conflicts of interest.

Graves has been no stranger to controversy during his tenure as U.S. Attorney. Last year, Graves was criticized for accepting a lucrative no-bid contract from the administration of Governor Matt Blunt, a politician whose actions are subject to scrutiny by Graves' office. The contract is worth several million dollars to Graves and his wife.

By tradition, senior U.S. Senator Kit Bond would play a key role in the selection of Graves replacement.

However, given the ongoing feud between the Graves family, Senator Bond, and GOP House Speaker Rod Jetton, the selection process in this situation might be quite complex.

In addition, given the recent questions over Speaker Rod Jetton's financial shenanigans, Bond's role in the Missouri Millenium Fund, and the fee office pyramid scheme run by Governor Blunt and his political allies--including Graves, his family, and their political associates--the Public Integrity Unit at the Justice Deparment may also weigh in on the selection process.