New Information Into the Investigation Of State Treasurer Laura-Lee Byrd

Obstruction of justice charges could be filed as a result of an investigation in the States Treasurers office. The State Patrol has conducted a long investigation of possible illegal check-writing by treasurer Laura-Lee Byrd. All of the evidence gathered by the state patrols office was handed over to Attorney General Jon Bruning. The case is now being investigated by his office.

Just two months ago, an anonymous tip alleged Laura-Lee Byrd of wrongdoing. The probe centers on why she wrote 300-thousand dollars in state checks and then kept them in her vault before canceling them. Critics say she was protecting the money from legislative budget cuts. On Wednesday, evidence collected by the State Patrol was handed over to the Attorney General.

Laura-Lee Byrd was not available for comment. She has claimed that she wrote the checks as a back-up, in case a new child support payment computer system went down. Jon Bruning says more than 70 witnesses have been interviewed and not everyone has been cooperative, which could lead to obstruction of justice charges. Bruning also says the investigation is leading to other questions of possible misconduct.

Bruning would not comment on what those other issues were. However he does say a decision on whether to file any charges will be made by Thanksgiving.