Staff: Stapleton Used State Truck to Telework, Not Commute

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana’s deputy secretary of state told a legislative committee Wednesday that Secretary of State Corey Stapleton used a state vehicle to travel to his family home in Billings to “telework” and legislative auditors were incorrect in saying he was commuting — which would violate state law.

The Legislative Audit Committee held a hearing Wednesday on the audit, which found Stapleton put nearly 28,000 miles (45,000 kilometers) on a state-owned pickup truck to commute to Billings, with most of the travel coinciding with weekends. The travel cost taxpayers over $5,700.

Christi Jacobsen repeatedly told the committee “the vehicle was used for teleworking.”

“So again,” Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth said in trying to draw out an explanation, “they’re living in Helena, then they’re taking a state vehicle to drive to Billings to then telework?”

“Correct,” Jacobsen responded.

Stapleton did not attend Wednesday’s hearing. Jacobsen said he was in eastern Montana on previously scheduled business.

Montana law allows state employees to use state vehicles to commute to worksites if they are emergency responders. It disallows commutes of more than 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) without authorization. Auditors noted the Department of Administration has determined there is no reason to justify a commute of over 30 miles in a state-owned vehicle.

The audit said Stapleton made trips of over 200 miles (322 kilometers) on 69 days from Jan 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. The audit does not account for any travel that occurred from July 2018 to April 2019 when auditors questioned the use of the vehicle and it was returned to the state motor pool.

In response to the audit, the secretary’s office said it agreed that “routine private-personal use of state vehicles is not permitted.”

Jacobsen said Wednesday that Stapleton’s travel involved visiting elections clerks and business owners who register their corporations with the state.