ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - KMOX News has confirmed with St. Louis Police they presented their case on Patricia and Mark McCloskey to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney. Kim Gardner's office will neither confirm or deny that, only saying it's still under investigation.
On Tuesday Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says he had spoke to President Trump about the McCloskeys - the lawyer couple that lives on Portland Place in St. Louis who were waving guns at protesters on June 28.
Parson says the McCloskeys have the ability to protect their property like everyone else, and what they should not have to go through is a prosecutor "attempting to take their constitutional rights away by filing charges against them for protecting their property."
"I just got off the phone with the President of the United States before I walked out here today," Parson says. "He understands the situation in Missouri. He understands the situation in St. Louis and how out of control it is for a prosecutor to let violent criminals off and not do their job and try to attack law-abiding citizens. The conversation I had with the President, said that he would do everything he could within his powers to help with this situation."
Gardner released a statement after the comments made by Parson:
"Today, both the Governor and Donald Trump came after me for doing my job and investigating a case. While they continue to play politics with the handling of this matter, spreading misinformation and distorting the truth, I refuse to do so. As I always do, I am reviewing all the available facts and the law and will apply them equally, regardless of the people involved.
It is unbelievable the Governor of the state of Missouri would seek advice from one of the most divisive leaders in our generation to overpower the discretion of a locally elected prosecutor. It is also incredible that at a time when our nation is dealing with a rapidly spreading deadly virus and our State reported a record number of new infections, they are launching these dog-whistle attacks against me. They should be focused on their jobs, and I'll focus on mine."
Friday, St. Louis Police served warrants on the McCloskey's at their Portland Place home and seized Mark's rifle. The gun Patricia was seen holding had been in her attorney's custody. Al Watkins told KMOX, he was keeping it to preserve evidence that the handgun was inoperable when she pointed it at protesters.
Watkins turned that handgun over to St. Louis Police Saturday outside his law office.
Watkins also told KMOX he is no longer representing the McCloskeys in the criminal portion of the case, but says he remains their attorney for other matters.
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