Records: Missouri planned to thank glitch-finding journalist at St. Louis Post-Dispatch
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Just before Missouri Gov. Mike Parson condemned a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter for exposing a state database flaw, records show the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was instead preparing to thank him for finding the glitch.
The Post-Dispatch reported Thursday that it obtained records through a Missouri Sunshine Law request, including an Oct. 12 email to Parson’s office from DESE spokesperson Mallory McGowin containing proposed statements for a news release.
“We are grateful to the member of the media who brought this to the state’s attention,” read a proposed quote from Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.
The quote ultimately was not used. Instead, the Office of Administration issued a news release the next day calling the Post-Dispatch journalist a “hacker.” Parson, a Republican, said at a news conference on Oct. 14 that a criminal investigation was being launched. That investigation is ongoing.
https://krcgtv.com/news/local/records-missouri-planned-to-thank-glitch-finding-journalist-at-st-louis-post-dispatch
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