IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An aide to former Gov. Chet Culver is asking regulators to dismiss a complaint alleging he violated an ethics law by filing a major environmental lawsuit against a Muscatine company whose pollution was investigated by Culver’s administration.
Jim Larew served as Culver’s general counsel and chief of staff. After Culver left office, Larew has represented Muscatine residents who are suing Grain Processing Corp. damages from air pollution from its corn milling plant.
GPC is seeking to have the case dismissed by arguing Larew violated a law forbidding employees from working in the private sector on cases they handled in government for two years. GPC claims Larew participated in its regulatory matters in Culver’s administration.
Larew says he had limited involvement in those issues, and hasn’t violated the ethics law.
