Montana State Sens. Dee Brown (R.) and Bob Keenan (R.) called this week for a special legislative committee to investigate alleged retaliation against state auditors who raised questions over certain payments from the state government.
The lawmakers sent a letter to Montana state legislators on Monday asking others to join them in calling for a committee to look into claims that state auditors were discouraged from investigating questionable payments the state had made. Former Montana auditors, who raised questions about various payments made by state officials, faced demotion or termination for doing so, the Helena Independent Record reported in September.
Bondy reported the misuse of funds to federal officials, which she believes contributed to her termination, and alleges department officials withheld information requested by the state legislature in 2015 on the financial performance of the Medicaid program.
A 17-year veteran of the DPHHS, Bondy said that she also was dismissed of her responsibilities because she raised concerns about the state's payments, the Great Falls Tribune reported.
Bondy, an audit bureau chief for DPHHS, alleges she was prevented from doing several "high-risk" audits, the lawsuit states. That included a review of the contracting process used by the Human and Community Services Division, an audit of the Guardian/Conservator process used by the Audit Protective Services Bureau, an audit of the client intake process used by the Child and Family Services Division, and a cost-analysis audit of the Columbia Falls Veterans' Home.
Court records indicate other intimidation tactics employed by DPHHS senior management towards lower level employees. The records filed show that senior DPHHS officials also withheld audits requested by state lawmakers. One state employee ignored their orders and sent the requested audits anyways. They were subsequently fired for doing so.
District Judge DeeAnn Cooney, who was initially overseeing the case, recused herself on Wednesday because she is married to the state's lieutenant governor, Mike Cooney. The lawsuit filed by Bondy levels the allegations not only at the department but against the governor's office as well.