Former Idaho governor seeks investigation of mining company

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Former Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has asked the Trump administration to investigate possible Chinese involvement in a mining company that could compete in Idaho with a Canadian-based company that tapped Otter to serve on its board of directors.

The Idaho Statesman reports in a story on Friday that Otter in a July 9 letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he’s concerned cobalt mined in Idaho will be shipped to China.

Otter in February joined the board of Toronto-based First Cobalt Corp.

Otter is asking Mnuchin to look into Australia-based Jervois Mining Ltd.’s move to acquire ECobalt Solutions, based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Otter says he’s concerned because Jervois is seeking a joint venture that would include Chinese investment.

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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com