New DOT resignation amid nepotism allegations

HELENA — The state Department of Transportation's chief human resources officer has resigned just days after the agency's former director stepped down amid revelations that his daughter was given a DOT job.

The department's new director tells Lee Newspapers of Montana (http://bit.ly/nEbjvA ) that Jennifer Jensen quit Monday afternoon.

Jensen was the chief human resources officer when former director Jim Lynch's daughter, Emily Rask, was hired in 2008 to work in the department's human resources office.

Lynch resigned Thursday. Gov. Brian Schweitzer says he only recently became aware of Rask's hiring and told Lynch it was a violation of the state's nepotism law.

The new director, Tim Reardon, says Jensen and the agency came to an agreement that it would be best if she resigned. Jensen did not return phone messages for comment.