Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, has lost the public’s trust and she must go.
Bailey made his decision after a robbery suspect, who violated his bond 50 times, mowed down a teenage volleyball player who was visiting from out of town.
The victim, 16-year-old Janae Edmondson, was in St. Louis with her family to play in a volleyball tournament. The family was walking downtown when 21-year-old Daniel Riley was speeding, failed to yield, and caused a collision with another vehicle that struck Edmondson pinning her and causing serious injuries.
She survived because of her father’s quick thinking and military training. But both of her legs were amputated and she remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Bailey blamed Gardner’s office for allowing Riley to remain free after violating his bond dozens of times.
“I’m a former prosecutor. I’ve worked in a county prosecutor’s office, and what motivated me every day was the rule of law and finding justice for victims,” Bailey told Fox News Digital. “And rather than finding justice for victims and protecting victims, the circuit attorney of the city of St. Louis was creating new victims. And someone’s got to hold her accountable,” he said.
Both Bailey and Gardner held separate press conferences on Thursday. Gardner nervously explained that a judge denied her requests to revoke Riley’s bond.
However, according to the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, Gardner’s office waited until recently to file motions to revoke Riley’s bond.
The court said Gardner did not file motions to revoke Riley’s bond in the last 2 years despite repeated violations of his bond.
“As Attorney General, I want to protect the people of St. Louis, and that includes ensuring prosecutors protect the public,” Bailey said at his press conference. “We gave Circuit Attorney Gardner the chance to do the right thing and resign, she has refused to do so, and my office filed a quo warranto at 12:01 PM to remove her from office immediately.”
A GoFundMe page set up to help pay for medical expenses has raised nearly $400,000.
Watch the video below.
