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St. Louis Prosecutor’s Nursing School Absence Raises Eyebrows in New Audit

In a recent bombshell audit, former St. Louis prosecutor Kim Gardner’s time in office has come under heavy fire. The state’s Republican Auditor, Scott Fitzpatrick, released a report revealing some eye-opening details about Gardner’s leadership, including questionable spending and a drastic drop in cases handled under her watch.

Here’s the kicker: The audit found that Gardner spent a whopping 7 weeks (34.5 working days!) attending nursing school classes during office hours at Saint Louis University. Gardner claimed she was working towards a post-master’s certificate in family nursing to bring mental health awareness to her office. But the timing of it all certainly raised eyebrows—especially given the other troubling issues the audit uncovered.

Spending Public Funds on Unusual Items

It wasn’t just her time management that got her into trouble. The audit also uncovered over $58,000 in taxpayer money spent on things that have nothing to do with running a prosecutor’s office, like flowers, a DJ, car detailing, a picnic, and even a chili cookout. Oh, and let’s not forget Gardner’s personal legal expenses.

Staff Turnover and Difficulty Accessing Information

But that’s not all. Auditors also found widespread staff turnover and trouble accessing key information from the office. According to the report, employees were delaying or denying audit requests for two years, and full access to documents was only granted when the new administration took over.

Political Pressure and Criticism

When Gardner resigned in 2023, she was under intense political pressure, especially from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the GOP-led legislature. At the time, lawmakers were considering a bill to remove her from the bulk of her duties, allowing the Republican governor to appoint a special prosecutor for violent crimes.

Gardner’s progressive approach to criminal justice—focused on mental health treatment, police accountability, and correcting wrongful convictions—was often at odds with conservative views. She was particularly criticized for having a low homicide conviction rate, and her relationship with local police was, to put it mildly, rocky.

The Greitens Scandal and More Trouble

Gardner’s tenure was also marked by the controversial 2018 charge against former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, accusing him of felony invasion of privacy. Though the charge was later dropped, it caused a huge stir and eventually led to the conviction of her investigator. Gardner also received a reprimand from the Missouri Supreme Court for mishandling documents related to the case.

And if that wasn’t enough, she also faced fallout for directing her staff to write checks to cover a $5,004 fine linked to that case. Even though she wasn’t entitled to the extra compensation, Gardner agreed to pay the money back herself to avoid federal charges.

Camilia Perez
Camilia Perezhttps://phsoutlook.com
Camilia Perez is a dynamic news anchor and journalist celebrated for her insightful reporting and dedication to delivering impactful stories. With a passion for uncovering the truth and a talent for connecting with audiences, she brings clarity and depth to her work. Camilia’s approachable yet authoritative style has made her a trusted and influential voice in journalism.

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