Yesterday afternoon, Deputy Lt. Governor Jerry Dowell used his Tour of Missouri email account notify potential supporters of an upcoming fundraiser for HD21 House Candidate John Cauthorn on behalf Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley and the House Republican Campaign Committee.
Kinder's office has confirmed to The News-Leader that Dowell sent the campaign email from his state computer.
A copy of the illegal email is below the fold.
It's unclear yet if Dowell's use of taxpayer-supported Tour resources are the "violation" Peter Kinder referred to in a tweet this morning. Around 8:45, Kinder wrote:
A member of my staff placed on unpaid leave starting today due to infraction I learned of 45 min ago. Statement to follow this morning.#pdk
UPDATE: The Star's Prime Buzz:
Multiple sources have told Prime Buzz that Kinder Deputy Jerry Dowell sent out a campaign e-mail while on state time, activity that could violate state and federal law.
UPDATE 2: The News-Leader:
Rich AuBuchon, chief of staff to Kinder, released the following statement just before 10 a.m. this morning about Dowell:
“Yesterday afternoon, I learned Jerry Dowell helped organize a fundraiser for a candidate for state representative. In doing so, he inadvertently sent an invitation from an email account associated with the Tour of Missouri of which he currently serves as the executive director. The email was sent during his lunch hour in what appears to be a genuine mistake."
“While I believe this is an honest mistake, this is one that I will not tolerate. Therefore, Jerry has been placed on unpaid leave for five days effective as of 8:00 a.m. today.”
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And a follow-up email sent from a different email account at 3:42pm yesterday:
