Following reports of harassment and employee lawsuits, Missouri's Department of Corrections director has said that he'll retire or resign.
Director George Lombardi in an email obtained by The Associated Press announced his decision to employees Thursday. Lombardi didn't say when he plans to leave.
The alternative weekly paper The Pitch first reported that Missouri between 2012 and 2016 paid more than $7.5 million on settlements and judgments related to those alleging harassment and retaliation.
Current Gov. Jay Nixon's spokesman Scott Holste and a department spokesman confirmed to AP that Lombardi had not resigned Thursday.
It wasn't immediately clear if Lombardi planned to leave early or remain until Republican Gov.-elect Eric Greitens takes office in January.
House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty in a statement Thursday called for Lombardi to resign.
