Missouri AG Bailey tries to block court order asking him to explain abortion cost estimate
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wants a Cole County judge to block a subpoena seeking records about how he came up with a $21 million cost estimate for a proposed abortion-rights initiative petition.
Republican political operative Jamie Corley filed an initiative petition earlier this year that seeks to amend the state constitution to add rape and incest exceptions to Missouri’s abortion ban and legalize the procedure through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, among other provisions.
Bailey argued in October that if the amendment were to be approved by voters next year, he would refuse to defend it and would have to hire outside counsel — which he determined would cost $21 million.
Corley filed a lawsuit challenging Bailey’s estimate, along with the ballot summary written by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. As part of that litigation, Corley’s attorneys issued a subpoena seeking records from the attorney general’s office explaining the cost estimate and the process for hiring outside counsel.
https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2023/12/14/missouri-ag-andrew-bailey-tries-block-subpoena-abortion-amendment-case/71920568007/