After Sen. Jason Ellsworth came under fire for an improper state-funded business contract, Ellsworth’s associate on the receiving end of the deal said under oath the contracts were his idea, according to sworn testimony obtained by the Montana State News Bureau. It is the first time his business associate, Bryce Eggleston, has weighed in since Eggleston, through his company Agile Analytics, entered into a contract with the senator late last year.
The $170,100 contract, which was funded by leftover money from an interim committee, skipped the public bidding process required by state rules. Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican, had access to those funds through his role as Senate President and as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform. released late last week, the Legislative Audit Division wrote that Ellsworth’s actions were an abuse of his government position as Senate President, and that he wasted state resources in trying to resolve the matter.
The 56 pages of Eggleston’s sworn testimony was attached to a letter dated Jan. 28 from Ellsworth’s attorney, Joan Mell, sent to the Legislative Audit Division. Sen.
Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, watches Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, speak on the Senate floor on Jan. 27 in the state Capitol. In the letter, Mell argues Eggleston’s testimony undermines the auditor’s findings.
Under oath, Eggleston said Ellsworth explained the bill analysis he needed done, but Eggleston came .
