On Monday, Watkins told the Post-Dispatch that Hawley’s announcement was “prudent on the part of the state,” but cautioned, “Our patience in this regard is tempered by the reality that time is of the essence in this case.”

Koster, who now works for Clayton-based Centene Corp., could not be reached Monday. A spokeswoman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department referred an inquiry to City Counselor Julian Bush, who declined to comment.

Hawley’s office announced the investigation after it received a letter last week from Watkins.

In the letter, Watkins quoted Joel Poole, then chief counsel of the litigation division in the attorney general’s office, as saying in 2016 that the office had turned over “every report and every video in possession of the Attorney General’s office” to Watkins during the case.

“Mr. Poole’s response was not responsive,” Watkins wrote last week to Hawley’s office.

After an “initial review” of Watkins’ letter last week, Hawley’s office on Monday announced the independent counsel would have “full access to files and personnel to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased review of the potential wrongdoing.”