The meat of the story:
- In Jan. 2006, Cummins had begun looking into allegations that Gov. Blunt had rewarded GOP supporters with contracts to run the state's driver's license offices.
- Cummins began investigating, but followed Justice Dept. protocol by refusing to acknowledge whether his office had opened a probe.
- The Governor's private attorney asked Cummins about the investigation, concerned about media reports. Blunt's attorney wanted Cummins to reassure him the Governor was not a target.
- Cummins said he did not comment to the attorney because the investigation was confidential.
- In June, Cummins was told he was being fired.
- In October, Cummins announced his investigation was over, breaking precedent because of media reports. No indictments were sought or returned. Cummins said, "at no time was Gov. Blunt a target, subject or witness in the investigation."
- Cummins denied he took that extra step as a favor to Blunt. "I didn't know what the politics were up there in Missouri. I couldn't pick Matt Blunt out in a lineup."
Now, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that Cummins said the L.A. Times story was inaccurate. "I have personally no information that there was any connection with that investigation" and his dismissal by President George W. Bush, Cummins told Jo Mannies.
The Missouri Democratic Party fired off a release accusing the Bush administration of firing a U.S. attorney because of an investigation surrounding Gov. Matt Blunt.
"It now becomes clear that the Bush administration was willing to fire a U.S. Attorney just because he was doing his job and investigating corruptions charges against fellow Republican Matt Blunt," said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. "The Bush administration has gravely endangered the integrity of our justice system all in an attempt to protect fellow Republicans like Matt Blunt and their potentially illegal behavior."
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