DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa prosecutor has decided not to file charges over allegations that a land agent offered to hire a prostitute for a landowner if he would allow an oil pipeline company access to his land.
Lee County Attorney Mike Short told The Des Moines Register on Monday there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute. He says it’s likely the landowner set up a meeting with the agent in order to embarrass the pipeline company.
The proposed pipeline would carry 450,000 barrels daily from North Dakota production sites to a hub in Patoka, Illinois. The company, Energy Transfer Partners, had said it was investigating the allegation about the agent, who the company said was working for a contractor.
The Iowa Utilities Board is scheduled to begin pipeline hearings on Nov. 12.