Hatfield, who was chief of staff to then- Attorney General Jay Nixon and ran Nixon’s campaign for U.S. Senate, said that his client did not want to be identified but that it was someone with whom he was already doing business. Hatfield has worked for banks, insurance companies and, recently, the Clean Missouri ethics reform initiative. He has also represented the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, whose board members are appointed by St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger. Krewson and Stenger are vocal supporters of Better Together.

Hatfield said he brought this issue to the attention of a client. And the client agreed that he should look into it.

Hatfield’s three-page letter sent to the municipalities contains more than two dozen requests for information. They demand, among other things, employee policies, handbook provisions, ethics guidelines and “any and all” communications pertaining to the use of public funds, the use of municipal employees, participation in campaigns, “legal theories of attack,” or dollars paid in support or opposition to the Better Together campaign.

The municipalities are required by law to respond in three days and produce the records as quickly as possible.