The Missouri Republican Party today accused Democratic State Auditor Susan Montee of playing politics with her audit of Republican Governor Matt Blunt’s office in order to help his Democratic challenger.

Today’s press release:

Montee Audit a Taxpayer-Financed Media Release for Nixon Campaign

JEFFERSON CITY — Democrat Susan Montee’s audit of the governor’s office is nothing more than a taxpayer-financed media release for Jay Nixon’s political campaign conjured up prior to the governor’s decision not to seek another term. It also is an attempt to shift the public’s focus away from Nixon’s illegal use of state vehicles for partisan political purposes.

In particular, Montee’s attempt to question the use of vehicles as part of the governor’s security detail is a transparent political attempt to try and counter Jay Nixon’s clearly illegal use of state vehicles for political events exposed late last year by the media. Montee also has been protecting Nixon by refusing to audit Nixon’s self-calculated reimbursement and failing to investigate his earlier claims to the state auditor’s office that he only used his state vehicle for official purposes.

“Democrat Susan Montee did not issue an audit today, she issued a taxpayer-financed media release for Jay Nixon designed as a campaign tool against the governor before he decided against a second term. This Nixon media release is also a desperate attempt to excuse Jay Nixon for illegally using taxpayer-financed state vehicles for political purposes,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Susan Montee is clearly using her office and taxpayer dollars to support Jay Nixon’s political campaign which is pathetic.”