Bullock's office says wrong guy targeted in ethics complaint

HELENA – Gov. Steve Bullock’s office has sent a letter to the Commissioner of Political Practices saying the Montana Republicans filed against the wrong person in their ethics complaint regarding out-of-state security for the governor as he campaigns for president

“The governor does not command or oversee the (Executive Protection Detail) EDP,” Raph Graybill, chief legal counsel for the Democratic governor wrote July 15 to Jeff Mangan of the COPP. “Rather decisions about its deployment are made exclusively by the Department (of Justice).”

“The Governor is not a proper party to this Complaint,” Graybill wrote.

The letter prompted a terse response by the Montana Republican Party.

“We find it shameful that you would try to pin your decision to abuse taxpayer dollars to benefit your presidential campaign on the Montana Highway Patrol and Department of Justice,” Don Kaltschmidt, Montana GOP chair, wrote Wednesday to Bullock.

The Montana GOP filed an ethics complaint against Bullock on Monday, saying he has wrongfully used taxpayer funds to pay for his security detail when traveling out-of-state campaigning for president and estimated he owed taxpayers about $309,420 for costs incurred since Jan. 1, 2017.

Also on Monday the governor’s office announced he had entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice in that as of July 2 he would pay for “incidental expenses,” including travel, lodging and cost meals incurred by the Montana Highway Patrol officers who accompany him out of state for his  2020 run. 

On May 31, Attorney General Tim Fox said he would no longer have EDP members accompany the governor on campaign trips "effective immediately,” saying the governor’s candidacy for president has created a situation that is without precedent in terms of security and he was engaged in an activity unrelated to the official business of the state.

The Montana Highway Patrol began providing security for governors after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The costs come out of the MHP budget.

Kaltschmidt wrote Wednesday in his letter to Bullock that he understood the need for taxpayers to cover the security costs for state business, but said the governor should pay for his own security on the campaign trail “— all costs incurred.”

“We stand by our ethics complaint and condemn your abuse of Montana tax dollars for your campaign and fundraising activity,” he wrote. 

Reporter Phil Drake is our eye on the state capitol. For tips, suggestions or comment, he can be reached at 406-231-9021 or pdrake@greatfallstribune.com. To support his work, subscribe today and get a special offer.