Auditor Issued Subpoena in Minnesota Data Release

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota's legislative auditor says he had to issue a subpoena to get information from the state Department of Public Safety in an investigation of an accidental data release.

Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles said Thursday it was the first subpoena he's had to issue to a state agency in his 35 years as auditor.

The release happened in Minnesota's troubled driver and vehicle licensing system, which inadvertently transferred some Minnesotans' data to private companies.

Reports say Nobles talked about the dispute during a meeting of the Legislative Audit Committee.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Bruce Gordon says the agency was gathering the information the auditor requested when the subpoena was received. Gordon says Nobles has received all the information he requested.

Republican Rep. Paul Torkelson urged Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to instruct the department to cooperate with Nobles to learn why the data release happened.