New York Times follow-up notes Koster connections with drug giant

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is under attack for the second day straight day in the New York Times.

After an article in the Wednesday edition indicated Koster had cut off a probe into the makers of Five Hour Energy following a meeting with a lobbyist at a cocktail party, today's edition includes information indicating that Koster shortchanged taxpayers on a settlement with drug giant Pfizer after receiving $20,000 in campaign contributions:

Mr. Koster’s office also concluded settlement negotiations in an unrelated consumer fraud case with the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer last year, days after receiving an invitation to be the guest speaker at a breakfast hosted by a Pfizer political action committee, which donated more than $20,000 to his election campaigns — more than to any other attorney general in the United States over the past five years.

That settlement, related to allegations of unlawful marketing of two drugs, brought Missouri hundreds of thousands of dollars less than other similar-size states received, The Times investigation showed.

Mr. Jones, who is leaving office in January and is considering a run for statewide office in 2016, said he knows his call for a special committee may lead to charges that his actions are motivated by politics. But he said he has the authority and responsibility to appoint the panel.

Mr. Koster, in an earlier statement to The Times, said his office accepted a smaller settlement payment from Pfizer because of a mistake made by a staff lawyer that prevented Missouri from joining the so-called multistate investigation of the company.