Kim Gardner

A state audit found former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner misspent nearly $60,000 from an office fund on items such as personal legal expenses, a Sam’s Club membership and disc jockey services.

Kim Gardner admitted to using funds from the circuit attorney’s office to cover the fines she faced for her conduct during the prosecution of former Gov. Eric Greitens.

Gabe Gore marked one year in office since taking over for Kim Gardner, who departed in 2023 while facing widespread criticism.

Republican Scott Fitzpatrick said his staff has tried to contact Gardner for months, but "it appears she has willfully evaded our many efforts to obtain information that only she can provide."

The GOP official was appointed to his post in 2022 and is seeking a full four-year term this year.

Kim Gardner saga tops the list of the year’s biggest political news in the St. Louis region.

Gov. Mike Parson appointed Gore to fill out the term of Kim Gardner, who resigned amid a growing uproar about her management of the office.

Gov. Mike Parson named Gabe Gore, a former federal prosecutor and Ferguson Commission member, to the post in May after the resignation of Kim Gardner.

Across the country, police have undermined and resisted reform. To protest a prosecutor, one detective was willing to let murder suspects walk free, even if he’d arrested them and believed that they should be behind bars.

The GOP official was appointed to succeed Tim Lohmar, who resigned earlier this year.