Mo. Governor Sued in Immigration Case

Carolyn Hileman* | October 27, 2007

By DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press Writer

A state janitorial contractor that was fired over allegations it employed illegal immigrants sued the state Thursday, accusing Gov. Matt Blunt of racial discrimination and abuse of power.

Blunt called the lawsuit “ludicrous” and defended his decision to cancel the contract of Sam’s Janitorial Services and bar the company from state work.

About 25 company employees were arrested in a March 6 sting at a Jefferson City state office building by federal and state law enforcement officers, according to the lawsuit.

The owner of Sam’s Janitorial, K. Asamoah-Boadu, claims Blunt exceeded his gubernatorial powers when he terminated the contract and disqualified the company from future state work. Asamoah-Boadu wants nine canceled contracts reinstated, the company’s ban from state work reversed and an unspecified amount of money for damages, according to the lawsuit filed in Cole County Circuit Court.

Asamoah-Boadu, an African-born U.S. citizen, also alleges racial discrimination because the state contract was subsequently given to white-owned B&G Cleaning, which also had been the contractor before Sam’s Janitorial won the bid.

“That’s ludicrous,” Blunt responded when asked about the lawsuit at a Capitol news conference.

Blunt said he didn’t know Asamoah-Boadu when he issued the executive order March 6 to cancel contracts with any companies found to be using illegal immigrants.

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