Another prosecutor from the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's office resigned on Friday, leaving just three assistant circuit attorneys to handle the backlog of felony cases. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who is hoping to have Kim Gardner removed from office, told KMOX he believes that the resignation is further reflection of Gardner's inability to hold the office.
"I think it's a dangerous situation for the entire region, especially for the people in the City of St. Louis," Bailey said. "She has failed — unlawfully refused to do her job, and the statue requires that she bears responsibility for her office, not anybody else."
On Tuesday, a judge will hear arguments in a pre-trial hearing in Bailey's case seeking to remove Gardner from office. Bailey wants the judge to set a trial date as soon as possible, and Gardner is asking the judge to dismiss the case.
Many Gardner supporters — and even some of her opposition — argue that Bailey's effort to remove Gardner from office is an example of voter disenfranchisement, since she was democratically elected.
But Bailey is set on being able to question the Circuit Attorney and her staff under oath before the trial.
"I'm gonna leave the trial strategy to the courtroom, but I'll say this — obviously, the people who have and continue to work in her office have a front row seat to her behaviors," he said.
He's also set on convincing Gardner's supporters that what he's doing is justified.
"I don't know that anybody wants murders roaming the streets creating new victims. Nobody should want that, no one in their right mind should want that," Bailey said. "And those people need to understand that that is what's happening today. Violent offenders are not being held accountable. That is the whole purpose of our criminal justice system."
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