'This is about the rule of law and about justice': Missouri AG makes good on ultimatum, moves to fire Soros prosecutor Kim Gardner

Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey gave St. Louis circuit attorney Kim Gardner until high noon Thursday to resign or be removed. Since Gardner — a Democrat with a reputation for politically motivated prosecutions and going lax on criminals — refused to step down, Bailey is now making good on his ultimatum and taking the next steps to give Gardner the boot.

What are the details?

Bailey said in a press conference early Thursday afternoon, "The circuit attorney has failed to prosecute cases that are pending in her jurisdiction. These are cases she charged but then allowed to languish and have sat and resulted in eventual dismissals or failure to prosecute."

"She has a constitutional, statutory, and moral obligation to stay in contact with victims of crime and has failed to do so," noted Bailey.

The Missouri AG added that Gardner has "neglected her duties by failing to charge new cases referred to her by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department."

These three behaviors "constitute a continued pattern of failure to discharge her duties and office, and represent neglect under the statutes and warrant removal," he added.

Bailey's office has started the process of filing a petition quo warranto, reported Fox News Digital. This legal mechanism will enable Bailey to oust Gardner should he successfully demonstrate to a judge that the Soros-backed prosecutor has neglected her duties.

"This is about a quantum of evidence that demonstrates her failure to prosecute cases, failure to inform and confer with victims in cases and failure to file new cases that are referred by law enforcement agencies," said Bailey.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that in the event Gardner is removed, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) will appoint a replacement.

TheBlaze previously reported that Bailey's ultimatum came largely in response to the public outcry over the reported destruction of a teen athlete's legs by an accused robber whom the Soros-backed prosecutor kept out of jail.

Bailey noted that "instead of protecting victims, Circuit Attorney Gardner is creating them. 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."

16-year-old volleyball player Janae Edmondson of Tennessee was in town for a volleyball tournament and was looking forward to playing Division II volleyball in college. Her dreams and her legs were crushed after a man freed from jail with pending robbery charges allegedly hit her while driving 20 mph over the limit and failing to yield, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Were it not for her father's military training and quick triage efforts, it is unlikely Edmondson would have survived at all.

21-year-old Daniel Riley was reportedly the man behind the wheel of the speeding car.

Riley was supposed to be under house arrest while out on bond for a 2020 robbery and armed criminal action. He violated his bond at least 50 times, including seven times in February. Gardner failed to put him back in jail.

"The ongoing failures of the Circuit Attorney’s office — with regard to the individual involved in this case as well as a litany of other cases that have not been brought to justice — are unforgiveable," said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis Inc., the region's premier business organization.

Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden said that Gardner "is incompetent and grossly unfit to hold her office."

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, a Democrat, said that the Soros-backed prosecutor had "lost the trust of the people."

Gardner attempted to displace blame, saying in a statement Wednesday, "Bond violations and decisions do not solely rest on the shoulders of prosecutors. ... In this matter, prosecutors asked on several occasions for higher bonds, and those requests were denied."

Mayor Jones: Kim Gardner has 'lost trust of the people'youtu.be

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!