JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A judge has spared members of Gov. Jay Nixon's administration from testifying before a Missouri House panel investigating state driver's license procedures.
Cole County Circuit Judge Dan Green issued a preliminary order Thursday blocking the committee from proceeding with the subpoenas. The order did not elaborate on why.
An attorney representing the Nixon administration employees had argued the subpoenas imposed an unreasonable burden by providing too little notice and taking the employees away from important work. He also asserted there was no legal authority for the subpoenas.
The committee is looking into whether state officials tried to implement provisions of the Real ID Act, despite a state law forbidding compliance with the federal proof-of-identity law.
House Speaker Tim Jones issued the subpoenas. He suggested Nixon is trying to hide something.
EARLIER COVERAGE
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Members of Gov. Jay Nixon's administration are fighting subpoenas to testify before a Missouri House panel investigating state driver's license procedures.
Nixon's staff members did not comply with subpoenas to appear Thursday before the committee.
Instead, a Nixon administration attorney filed court documents seeking to shield them from the subpoenas. The attorney argued the subpoenas impose an unreasonable burden by providing too little notice and taking the employees away from important work. He also asserted there was no legal authority for the subpoenas.
A Cole County circuit judge made no immediate ruling on the subpoenas.
The committee is looking into whether state officials tried to implement provisions of the Real ID Act, despite a state law forbidding compliance with the federal proof-of-identity law.