The Moniteau County Assessor has stepped down from her position amid allegations of fraud and an ongoing investigation of her conduct, the Democrat confirmed last week.
The State Auditor's Office received a whistleblower complaint on Nov. 18 about Amanda Trimble. Press Secretary Steph Deidrick confirmed last Thursday the office's Public Corruption and Fraud Division is currently reviewing these allegations.
According to the State Auditor's website, the Public Corruption and Fraud Division is a unit within the Missouri State Auditor's Office dedicated to rooting out fraud, waste and abuse in state, county and local government and assisting law enforcement to ensure corrupt public officials are held accountable. After receiving a whistleblower complaint, the office will then review the submitted information, investigate any allegations of fraud or abuse and can take a number of potential steps if such allegations are deemed credible. These can range from working directly with an entity or public official to resolve the concern appropriately and efficiently to teaming with law enforcement to immediately address any activities that appear criminal in nature.
Presiding Commissioner Mac Finley said, additionally, there is a law enforcement investigation into Trimble's conduct in progress; he declined to comment on it. Moniteau County Sheriff Tony Wheatley also independently confirmed such an investigation is taking place, and declined to comment.
Finley also confirmed Trimble has not submitted a letter of resignation to him, nor has she done so with the Governor's office, which also confirmed no such communication had yet been received by the office as of last week. Finley said he had been expecting it was a possibility that a formal resignation might be handed in to him by the end of the day Friday, but Finley said he still has yet to receive one as of press time.