Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones (R, Eureka) has announced the formation of another investigative committee, this time to look into allegations of a hostile work environment at the state Department of Agriculture.
The committee's formation comes weeks after the announced resignation of former Agriculture Director Jon Hagler, and follows the release of a letter by a former Agriculture department employee who accused Hagler of creating a hostile work place. The committee will be chaired by State Representative Casey Guernsey (R, Bethany).
"It's more than just one allegation that we're dealing with here," Guernsey said. "There's some actions and staffing changes as a result of apparently what's been the managerial style there at the department over the course of the last few years, (that) have directly impacted that department's ability to do (its) work."
House Speaker Jones has also directed the House Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability to look into the claims made against the Agriculture department.
Hagler told the Associated Press this weekend that he did not use intimidation, that he was a tough but fair manager.
Jones also formed an investigative committee earlier this year to look into the Department of Revenue's now-defunct practice of scanning documents of driver's license applicants.
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