New Hampshire’s top law enforcement officer said state officials have no knowledge about a list of clients kept by former state Rep. Kyle Tasker, who was arrested on drug and attempted rape charges.

“I don’t know where this thing about a list is coming from,” said Attorney General Joseph Foster. “I’ve heard rumors, but as far as keeping a black book, I’ve not heard that ... I’ve never heard from any credible source that (Tasker) has a list.”

Tasker, a Republican, was arrested in March after police said he solicited a 14-year-old girl for sex. When police obtained a search warrant for his home, they found marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms and Suboxone. He was charged with three felony-level drug charges, including an intent to sell, court records show.

Three weeks after his arrest, citing unnamed sources, WMUR reported authorities discovered a list of Tasker’s clients, “a list that includes the names of current elected officials,” the story said.

The story led to weeks of speculation inside the State House and beyond about whether several more elected officials could be facing arrest. As several lawmakers announced they were dropping out of a race or retiring over the last few weeks, rumors swirled that they were on “the list,” as it became known.

But the police chief where Tasker was arrested also said he was not aware of a list of drug clients.

“I have no knowledge of it,” said Gunnar Foss, the chief of police in Nottingham, where Tasker also lived.

Felony cases from Nottingham, like Tasker’s, are prosecuted by Rockingham County Attorney Patricia Conway, who said she could not comment on an ongoing case.

Foster said other agencies can investigate drug charges but if it involved an elected or government official, the Attorney General’s Office would be included in the investigation. If another agency was investigating, “we would ask to take it from them,” he said in an interview.

Speculation over “the list” led some lawmakers to proactively let constituents know they were not on it. Sen. David Boutin, R-Hooksett, who is retiring at the end of the session, said he was not on it.

Leadership in both the House and Senate said they have not been approached by investigators from any law enforcement agency. Senate President Chuck Morse, R-Salem, and Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, said they had no knowledge of a list. House Communications Director Jim Rivers said the same goes for the House chamber.

“We are waiting like everyone else to see how this story develops,” he said.
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