Missouri's former election integrity director has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, alleging he was fired after raising concerns about staff plotting to file a fake complaint in a legal case involving the state's voter database. The lawsuit also claims Hoskins' office illegally directed local election officials to change the results of a city council race and used state funds for politically motivated mailings.
Hoskins' office, through spokesperson Anne Marie Moy, stated that the secretary of state "will not be able to comment on pending litigation involving a personnel matter."
The lawsuit was filed Monday by Nicholas La Strada, who had served as Pettis County clerk for 14 years before Hoskins hired him as state election integrity director in January 2025. According to the suit, La Strada's administrative access to the state's voter registration system was revoked after he voiced concerns that the office may have improperly used funds to send out information opposing a St. Louis County ballot measure.
La Strada also alleges that Hoskins' office improperly intervened in an April municipal election. After the results of a close Marshall City Council race were certified, the suit states that Hoskins' office received a complaint, conducted its own recount, and then instructed city officials to alter the certified results. The lawsuit contends that only a judge has the authority to order such actions.
In April, La Strada was reportedly present for a conversation where staff members discussed using a "burner phone" and an IP address scrambler to submit a fabricated whistleblower complaint in a federal administrative proceeding concerning the state's voter registration database, the lawsuit claims. La Strada stated he raised these concerns with Hoskins twice, but his security access was deactivated shortly before a hearing in the case, and he was terminated effective May 1. The position of state election integrity director remains vacant.
Hoskins is also facing scrutiny for his role in Missouri's congressional redistricting. The state Supreme Court recently found him temporarily in contempt for taking steps to use new U.S. House districts, backed by former President Donald Trump, in the November election, despite a court order. Separately, voters who signed a referendum petition to put the new congressional district map to a statewide vote in November have filed a class-action lawsuit seeking monetary damages against Hoskins.
"How can you trust a secretary of state’s office when they fired the man who was telling them what they cannot do," said attorney Erin N. Vernon, who is leading the lawsuit filed by La Strada. "If you’ve done it once, what’s to stop them from doing it on bigger elections in November and coming right in and changing it to who they want, their preferred candidate."