by Erinn Broadus
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigned from office Tuesday weeks earlier than her stated departure date, according to a press release from her office.
Gardner, whose campaign was backed by George Soros, resigned from office on May 4, stating her last day in office would be June 1, according to The Associated Press. On May 16, a letter from her office said her resignation would be “effective immediately.”
“Effective immediately, Kimberly M. Gardner will end her service as the City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney,” the statement reads. “Ms. Gardner has been committed to serving the people of the City of St. Louis and has done all she can to ensure a smooth transition.”
Gardner was criticized for her perceived unwillingness to punish violent criminals, according to the AP. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit in February to remove her from office after a teen volleyball player visiting from Tennessee was struck by a speeding car, causing her to lose both of her legs.
The man who hit her, Daniel Riley, is a robbery suspect who had violated the terms of his bond 94 times since 2020 but remained out of jail, according to the AP.
“Instead of protecting victims, which is her obligation, she’s creating more victims by neglect in office,” said AG Bailey.
Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson was expecting Gardner to expedite her resignation and said that nothing has changed in his planning to appoint a new circuit attorney, according to a press conference in St. Louis on Tuesday.
“So, with the resignation today, that changes the scenario somewhat,” Parson said. “We will advance that pick; hopefully, by this Friday, I will be able to pick that person.”
“The Circuit Attorney has finally heeded my call to resign after undermining the rule of law for years. Today, we begin the process of restoring public safety to the City of St. Louis,” tweeted AG Andrew Bailey.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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Erinn Broadus is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Kim Gardner” by Circuit Attorney’s Office.
