Will be updated.
Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich is questioning the process for awarding contracts to private attorneys representing the state in lawsuits.
The attorney general's office can award contingency fee contracts by requesting bids or asking the state Office of Administration to request bids and establish an independent panel to choose the winner.
An audit Wednesday reports the attorney general's office reserved the right to reject bids or seek new responses while using the Office of Administration for three contracts last year. Auditors noted several bidders contributed a combined $170,000 to Attorney General Chris Koster's campaign.
Koster's office says bid requests for the three contracts were withdrawn last month. For future procurements, the office will ask not to have similar powers.
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