A Missouri political operative was told that there was a “possibility of change” in his employment before he apparently committed suicide, the state auditor’s office said Tuesday.
Spence Jackson served as the spokesman for late gubernatorial candidate and state Auditor Tom Schweich (R) before Schweich took his own life on Feb. 26 amid rumors of a whisper campaign about his faith. Schweich told people before his death that he believed the whisper campaign was designed to hurt him in the Republican primary.
Jackson was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head Sunday in his apartment, a little more than a month after Schweich’s own suicide. At the request of Jackson’s family, authorities on Tuesday revealed the contents of a note found at the scene in order to dispel speculation of a connection between the two apparent suicides.
“I’m so sorry. I just can’t be unemployed again,” the note read, according to Jefferson City police Capt. Doug Shoemaker.
Jackson was still “gainfully employed” at the auditor’s office at the time of his death, Shoemaker added in a news conference.
But a spokesman for the auditor’s office told TPM Tuesday that Schweich’s temporary replacement had warned top staffers that there was a possibility of losing their jobs once a new interim auditor was appointed.
“When Interim Auditor John Watson took over, he met with senior staff. At that time he noted that every one’s job was secure, but that when the new interim was appointed, there would be a possibility of change,” acting media director David Luther told TPM by email.
Watson had no individual conversations with staff members, Luther added.
