Lawyer Denies Role in Prosecutor Firing

A St. Louis attorney is disputing stories that he complained about lax voter fraud prosecutions, resulting in the ouster of U.S. Attorney Todd Graves of Kansas City, Mo.

Thor Hearne, a Republican activist, has battled voter fraud and worked to strengthen identification requirements for voters. But he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he was not the source of complaints.

"I have not had any discussions with the White House, the Justice Department or anyone else concerning Todd Graves' role as a U.S. attorney," he said.

Hearne, now election law counsel for Missouri’s governor, helped block an effort to keep state polls open late in the November 2000 election and coordinated lawyer poll watchers.