By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – A lawsuit claims Missouri Governor Matt Blunt or his top deputies ordered the destruction of computer backup tapes to avoid giving e-mails to the media.
The lawsuit was filed by investigators appointed by Attorney General Jay Nixon. They're looking into whether Blunt's staff violated the open-records law by deleting some e-mails.
The suit contends the administration sought to have the backup files destroyed after receiving an open-records request from The Associated Press.
Plaintiffs also claim information-technology employees refused to destroy the tapes.
A Blunt spokeswoman said the lawsuit is politically motivated.
She said a newspaper reported the details before the governor's office or his lawyer received a copy of the lawsuit.