JEFFERSON CITY • The Cole County Circuit Court has issued a subpoena to U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley so that a Democrat running for attorney general can question the senator about his adherence to the state’s Sunshine Law.

Elad Gross, a St. Louis attorney and Democratic candidate for attorney general in 2020, said in a news release Tuesday morning that the Cole County Circuit Court issued the subpoena at his request.

Gross wants to depose Hawley and force him to turn over documents.

The subpoena, Gross said, is intended to force Hawley “to answer questions under oath about his involvement in violating Missouri’s public records law during his time as the state’s attorney general.”

Kelli Ford, a spokeswoman for Hawley’s U.S. Senate office, called the subpoena a “political stunt.” She said Hawley would seek to quash the subpoena.

“It’s unfortunate that Democrat operatives continue to misuse our courts of law for political purposes,” she said in an email. “It’s a frivolous request. He isn’t party to the lawsuit.”