Federal subpoena filed against Steve Stenger's office released to public

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Photo credit Brad Choat/KMOX

CLAYTON, Mo. (KMOX) — The county council voted Tuesday night to release the contents of a federal subpoena served on County Executive Steve Stenger's office. 

County Council members voted nearly unanimously Tuesday night to waive confidentiality and make the document public.

Steve Stenger Federal Subpoena by Sam Masterson on Scribd

"When did you become aware of this investigation?" asked Harder.

"Once again, legal matter...I'm not going to engage it," responded Stenger. "Right now is not really the time for grandstanding, it's really a time for compliance. Politicizing this isn't doing anybody any good...or the county."

Related: St. Louis County Councilman Tim Fitch calls for Steve Stenger to resign

Attorney Peter Crane said he's handling the collection of materials sought in the subpoena... independent of anyone else.

What do the feds want to see?  Just about everything related to business with the county for the entire time Steve Stenger has been in office.

The document, which was made available by council members and was circulating widely on social media Tuesday, encompasses a window dating back to January of 2015. 

  1. Investigators want to see all requests for proposal, all responses, all documents, notes, and corresponance regarding the awarding of contracts. 
  2. They want similar detail regarding county grant money and even sunshine law requests. 
  3. They're also looking for personnel files on five county employees. 
  4. Lastly, they want all communication and notes between Steve Stenger and anyone who works for him with the port authority and the Economic Development Partnership. 

In a nutshell, this is a very deep fishing expedition being conducted by federal investigators.

KMOX's George Sells contributed to this story.