First Friday Coffee swaps out speakers

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee event has a program change in store for today.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster was set to speak, but canceled Monday, according to chamber staff.

The cancellation happened days after the New York Times reported Koster was one of many state attorneys general possibly influenced by campaign contributions and lobbyists. The story claims Koster's office gave preferential treatment to companies it was investigating in exchange for the contributions.

The New York Times reported Koster confirmed he asked staff not to investigate 5-Hour Energy while at a Democratic Attorneys General Association conference at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in California. A lawyer for 5-Hour Energy also attended the conference. He said most states have not investigated 5-Hour Energy, and told The New York Times he uses the energy drink.

The newspaper also cited campaign finance documents showing Koster received more than $30,000 from Pfizer and a law firm representing the company, while it was under investigation by his office.

Koster has denied any wrongdoing and said in a statement released the same day as the New York Times story that the article "misrepresents the facts, disorting events to create an appearance of impropriety where none exists."

Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, released a statement soon after announcing his plans to form an investigatory committee to look into the matter. The House has the option to impeach, depending on what the committee learns during its investigation.

Replacing Koster as the First Friday speaker will be Brian Tapp, director of outreach for the Institute for Regional Innovation & Entrepreneurship. His presentation will focus on regional entrepreneurship assessment strategy, according to an email from the chamber.

Sponsors of this month's event are the Southeast Missourian and CPU, Inc. The event will be at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center. Doors open at 7 a.m., and a continental breakfast will be served.

The speaker program begins at 7:40 a.m.

Pertinent address:

777 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO