UNDATED (KELO AM) Republican State Senator Deb Peters of Hartford has decided against new public hearings on the Gear Up scandal, at least for now.
"After the court system is all said and done, if there is additional research that needs to be done because something didn't happen or that something was felt that was missed, then we will open it back up," Peters tells KELO.COM.
A bipartisan group of 20 lawmaker is asking for additonal hearings by the State Government Operations and Audit Committee which Peters chairs.
But hearings now would be premature, she says.
"It's not something we are closing the door on, but we don't have to open up a new wound."
The alleged embezzlement scheme blew up after Scott Westerhuis of Platte killed his wife and three children and then himself. Westerhuis ran a state-funded education cooperative. Three people, Stacy Phelps, Dan Guericke, and Stephanie Hubers have been charged with helping embezzle more than a $1 million. They either worked for the cooperative or one of its programs.
Peters says that at her next committee meeting later this month, the members will be briefed on the latest in the scandal.
