A Missouri state employees' pension official has testified that a private equity firm being sued for allegedly mishandling retirement investments has hired a lobbyist who tried to influence legislators and put pressure on the pension.
The private equity firm Catalyst Capital Group hired a lobbyist after the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System filed its lawsuit in October.
Pension system executive director Ronda Stegmann testified in a court hearing last week that a lobbyist then tried to set up a meeting with her, two legislators and Catalyst executives.
The Kansas City Star reported parties involved in litigation typically do not speak with one another outside of court proceedings, except through their attorneys.