(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) Under fire on multiple fronts and facing an investigation of criminal contempt for failing to do her job, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigned from office, and immediately played the race card.
The Thursday announcement marked an abrupt change from Gardner’s defiant declaration earlier this week when she swore, ““I ain’t leaving. I ain’t resigning. I ain’t doing nothing. You gonna have to remove me.”
Gardner, one of many far-leftist prosecutors bankrolled by billionaire globalist George Soros, was already in jeopardy of being removed from office, with the state’s attorney general, Republican Andrew Bailey, having launched proceedings to oust her for negligence in prosecuting and enforcing existing laws.
“Instead of protecting victims, Circuit Attorney Gardner is creating them,” Bailey said in a statement at the time. “My office will do everything in its power to restore order, and eliminate the chaos in St. Louis caused by Kim Gardner’s neglect of her office.”
Last month, a St. Louis judge sanctioned Gardner’s office for withholding evidence in a double homicide case and allowing the suspect out on bond.
Gardner’s troubles escalated earlier this week, when a judge ruled that Bailey was entitled to documents and depositions in the pending case. Bailey was pursuing records that showed Gardner was taking nursing classes at St. Louis University.
“Obtaining a nursing degree is not one of her official duties. Prosecuting criminals is. Yet she has consistently failed to charge new cases, confer with victims and move the cases she does charge to disposition,” Bailey said.
Gardner’s office had seen a staggeringly high exodus of staff, citing a toxic work environment, and last month a judge ripped her with contempt of court charges for her failure to show up in court for the trial of a man charged in a fatal shooting. In his ruling, the judge said that Gardner’s office “appears to be a rudderless ship of chaos.”
Accusing Gardner of having “complete indifference and a conscious disregard for the judicial process,” the judge ruled there was “sufficient evidence of disdain and disrespect for the judicial process” in Gardner’s conduct to “support a finding of indirect criminal contempt.”
Gardner on Thursday declared that she was being forced out of office because of racism.
“Unfortunately, since the time I took office, as the first Black, female prosecutor in the State, people outside of the city have targeted me and, to advance their goals, have also targeted the fundamental rights of the city’s voters,” she claimed her resignation letter.
“It is with a heavy heart but steadfast resolve that I am resigning my position as your Circuit Attorney, effective June 1,” she wrote.
Bailey, the state’s AG, wasn’t buying it, and demanded her immediate removal from office.
“There is absolutely no reason for the Circuit Attorney to remain in office until June 1,” Bailey said. “We remain undeterred with our legal quest to forcibly remove her from office. Every day she remains puts the City of St. Louis in more danger. How many victims will there be between now and June 1? How many defendants will have their constitutional rights violated? How many cases will continue to go unprosecuted?”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, acknowledged that he’d received Gardner’s letter and will appoint a replacement who “can help restore faith in the city’s criminal justice system.”
