Attorney General ready to take legal action on broadband repayments

Idaho’s Attorney General Lawrence Wasden says his office is ready to take legal action in the event the Department of Administration refuses to try to recover money paid out under the illegal $60 million broadband contract.

In March, the Idaho Supreme Court agreed that a statewide contract for broadband in public schools was void. The justices said the law required the state to try to recover the money already paid out under the voided contract, but stopped short of officially ordering state officials to seek repayment.

Instead, the justices ruled that if the appropriate state officer does not seek repayment, the state’s chief legal officer could step forward to do the job.

A spokeswoman for Department of Administration Director Bob Goeddes says the agency has until October to make a final decision.