Missouri Secretary of State’s Office claims whistleblower was already on track to be fired
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Secretary of State's Office says a former employee, who filed a whistleblower lawsuit in September, "was already on track to be let go," according to new court documents filed Thursday.
Former Elections Integrity Director Nicholas La Strada accused Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins of three things he said resulted in his termination.
La Strada alleged improper use of funds for political mail, election integrity concerns when the election winner for Marshall was changed after it was certified in April and reported ethical concerns during a Help America Vote Act court hearing.
The state responded to those claims Thursday, arguing La Strada was insubordinate and failed to show up to work, Assistant Attorney General Charles Adamson wrote in court documents.
"The statute does not protect an employee whose disclosure relates to the employee's own violations, mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or endangerment of the public health or safety," Adamson wrote.
La Strada said in court documents that he emailed Hoskins and others employed by the Secretary of State's Office about his concerns that public funds were being used to send political mail to St. Louis voters in 2025.
The state denied that public funds were used, but acknowledged that funding came from a St. Louis County executive, court documents said.
The Secretary of State's Office confirmed it removed La Strada's administrative access to Missouri's voter registration database after he "without authority, made changes to voter records, including deletions and merges."
About one year later, in April 2026, La Strada claimed that the Secretary of State's Office intimidated Saline County election officials to change the winner of the Marshall City Council race. He said he brought this to the leaders at the SOS office.
The Hoskin's office denied La Strada's claims that it had a hand in the Marshall race.
In a separate incident, La Strada claims he was denied access to a Help America Vote Act hearing also in April 2026 because his key card to the Capitol was suspended.
The Secretary of State's Office argued that La Strada wasn't barred from the hearing, and he could have used the public entrance.
"Plaintiff was required to attend, instructed to meet with counsel in advance, and reminded multiple times that he was required to attend. Plaintiff was even encouraged to submit written testimony before the hearing," Adamson wrote in court documents.
The state also alleges La Strada didn't want to testify in the HAVA hearing and didn't show up to prepare for the hearing with the office's attorney. La Strada said he reported plans by other senior staff in the Secretary of State's Office to submit fabricated evidence to the HAVA court trial. The state denied that claim.
La Strada was fired after meeting with Hoskins twice following the trial and testimony.
"Plaintiff by then [the HAVA hearing] had a history of not showing up to work, poor communication, unprofessional conduct, insubordination, and other misconduct to include refusing to go to meetings when he had disagreements with senior staff and Secretary Hoskins," Adamson wrote in court documents.
The state argues La Strada knows the information he argues in court documents is false. Adamson also claimed Hoskin's office was within its right to reprimand La Strada and that he (La Strada) can't be protected by whistleblower laws because of his wrongdoing.
Check back for updates.
