Legislative Panel Demands Records from North Dakota Auditor

A legislative committee is demanding records from North Dakota’s state auditor involving the prosecution of the state’s former workers’ compensation director.

The Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee approved a request by Dickinson Rep. Frank Wald for the documents.

Material from a state performance audit of the Workforce Safety and Insurance agency has been used to support two felony charges against former WSI director Sandy Blunt. He is accused of misspending agency funds.

Wald and other committee members have been critical of the audit and the criminal prosecution.

They say the state auditor went beyond his authority, and say the questioned spending at WSI shouldn’t be treated as a crime.