St. Louis attorney alleging A New Missouri in violation of state’s nonprofit laws

A St. Louis attorney is asking the Secretary of State’s Office to investigate if a charity tied former Governor Eric Greitens is in violation of Missouri’s law on nonprofit corporations.

In a letter sent to the Secretary of State’s Office on June 11, 2018, Elad Gross, an attorney in the city, is alleging that A New Missouri, Inc., is not maintaining a registered office as required under state statute.

“A New Missouri, Inc., has failed to accept certified mail at their registered address in Missouri. That means they are in violation of Missouri law,” Gross wrote in a Facebook post. “So today, because he cares about Missouri and responsive government, Fredrick Doss rang on their doorbell. No one at the office answered. He left and came back a few hours later. Still, no one answered, so he posted my notices on their door.”

He subsequently sent a letter to the Secretary of State’s Office outlining his attempts to reach A New Missouri by an in-person visit during regular business hours and by certified mail at its registered office listed on its Articles of Incorporation and its filed Change of Registered Agent form.

Under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 355.161, nonprofit corporations in Missouri are required to maintain a registered office, according to Gross. He is asking for an investigation into whether or not A New Missouri is complying with state law.

But that does not appear to be the end of his plans.

“And I will be sending certified letters to every person listed on A New Missouri, Inc.’s corporate filings,” Gross wrote on Facebook. “After the required waiting period, I will file a petition against A New Missouri, Inc., and ask a judge to order the organization to release its records.”

The nonprofit group tied with Greitens has been met with some added controversy in recent weeks as the organization got pulled into the investigation into the then-governor.

The House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight had subpoenaed any communications between A New Missouri and Greitens for Missouri, as well as information concerning the expenditures of A New Missouri.

On May 29, 2018, a Cole County judge ruled to enforce the subpoena. Hours later, Greitens announced his plan to resign from office. Last week, the committee withdraw its efforts for the subpoena to be enforced.

This story originally appeared on missouritimes.com