JEFFERSON CITY | There's a rumor going around the Capitol that Joe Bindbeutel, the former DNR deputy who was washed out of state government last month in connection with Dirty Watergate, may find a new-old job in the office of Attorney General Chris Koster.

We don't usually report on mere rumors, but this one is interesting because the AG's office isn't trying very hard to quash it.

Prime Buzz (and other reporters) caught up with spokeswoman Nanci Gonder. Her response: "He has not joined the attorney general’s office and no decision has been made."

When pressed on whether Bindbeutel is being considered for a position, Gonder said she couldn't comment further, not even to clarify her statement that sure makes it seem like he is being considered.

"I can’t discuss it any further other than to say no decision’s been made," she said this afternoon.

Gonder also said the office currently has no open management positions.

Koster, like Nixon, is a Democrat. 

Prime Buzz left a message at a phone number believed to belong to Bindbeutel this morning, but has not heard a response. Mr. Bindbeutel, if you're out there, feel free to call us at 573-634-3565 if you'd like to illuminate the situation.

Bindbeutel worked for years in the Attorney General's Office under Jay Nixon, who was elected governor last year. In the transition, he first moved to the Department of Natural Resources as the deputy director and then this summer took an appointment on the Administrative Hearing Commission.

Bindbeutel took the blame for the delayed release of test results showing high levels of E. Coli at the Lake of the Ozarks this summer while he was still deputy director. Nixon withdrew Bindbeutel's AHC appointment last month -- effectively firing him -- in response to his role in the E. Coli controversy.