Idaho Official Says he Won’t Seek Repayment on Void Broadband Contract

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho state official in charge of a voided $60 million statewide school broadband contract says he won't try to recover the money paid out under the illegal deal despite direction from Idaho's highest court.

Idaho Department of Administration Director Robert Geddes informed Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden of his decision in a letter dated last week. Now it falls to Wasden to decide if he will enforce a state law requiring officials to seek the return of money paid on illegal contracts. The Idaho Supreme Court agreed in March that the statewide contract for broadband in public schools was void.

At the time, Wasden said the direction from the high court was clear. He said his office would take action if Geddes and the Department of Administration declined to do so. On Friday, however, Wasden's spokesman Todd Dvorak said his boss was still working out the legal details.