CLAYTON 鈥 The prosecuting attorney here renewed his effort to oust a St. 香港三级片 County councilman accused of nepotism and pointed to what he described as a government cover-up that included possible grand jury leaks and illegal document tampering.
Hancock
Councilman Dennis Hancock, from Fenton, not only violated nepotism laws by hiring his stepdaughter, Hollie Galati, but he also worked with other government employees to retroactively save his own job, St. 香港三级片 County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said at a press conference held Thursday morning at the Justice Center.
Bell released evidence his office has collected that he said supports the county鈥檚 effort to oust Hancock, including birth and marriage certificates, a property deed, emails, social media posts, county payroll records and other government documents.
The prosecutor also provided a recording made in August of a phone call between Hancock and County Counselor Dana Redwing, the attorney for county government.
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In the conversation, Redwing tells Hancock that he had forfeited his office by hiring his stepdaughter, a violation of the Missouri Constitution鈥檚 prohibition against nepotism. Hancock, a former mayor, said 鈥渘o one made (him) aware鈥 of the rule. He then asked Redwing if he could rectify the matter by having Galati resign. Redwing told him no, that wasn鈥檛 an option.
鈥淐ouncilman Hancock can step down and do the honorable thing,鈥 Bell said Thursday. 鈥淚f not, we are filing our quo warranto and according to the law, he should be removed immediately during this process.鈥
His office filed the action later Thursday.
Hancock鈥檚 lawyer, Kimberley Mathis, said on Thursday afternoon that she had not received information regarding any legal steps being taken against Hancock or a lawsuit against him.
鈥淚 have heard from many reporters that there have been press releases and press conferences, but nothing actually filed in court,鈥 she said.
The filing represents the second time Bell has attempted to oust Hancock over the nepotism violation. In August, he went to court to bar Hancock from participating in any official activity or exercising any authority until the nepotism case could be heard by a judge. After pressing the judge for a swift ruling, though, Bell鈥檚 office dropped the filing in mid-November.
Bell, who was elected last month to Congress, is expected to resign as prosecutor on Jan. 2.
A dispute about Bell鈥檚 successor is currently in the courts. County Executive Sam Page, a Bell ally, asserts he has the authority to name an interim prosecutor; the state contends the governor names Bell鈥檚 replacement. A judge last week ruled for the state, but Page has said he plans to appeal.
鈥淯ntil I step down, I am the elected county prosecutor,鈥 Bell said Thursday. 鈥淭here are one of two people who are going to be taking my role, both of which I have a lot of confidence in.鈥
Bell鈥檚 exhibits
Galati鈥檚 employment began on Aug. 19, with a salary of $51,888 per year and additional benefits, documents released Thursday show. After Hancock realized her hiring was in violation of nepotism laws, Bell says Hancock worked with St. 香港三级片 County Clerk Diann Valenti to alter the already-filed employment documents to show that she did not accept the job.
Bell said Valenti changed the status in the system from 鈥渘ew hire鈥 to 鈥渞ejected鈥 in the county鈥檚 ticketing and personal system, and asked another government employee to change fields in the personnel electronic ticketing employee action data page and messaging system.
Valenti was also accused of requesting a screenshot of the data system reflecting that Galati was never employed at St 香港三级片 County.
Bell said Valenti gave those screenshots to Hancock. He then forwarded the screenshots to a lobbyist who publicly distributed them.
鈥淚 want to say this to not only our St. 香港三级片 County public, but also members of the media: you were lied to,鈥 Bell said during Thursday鈥檚 press conference. 鈥淵ou were given false information. You were given a false narrative that Miss Galati was not hired. I saw the interviews, I saw the statements made by certain public officials that this did not happen, that the paperwork was never processed, when, in fact, it was.鈥
Jane Dueker, a police union lobbyist, swiftly took to social media and identified herself as the lobbyist.
鈥淭his record was not falsified,鈥 she wrote. 鈥淢s. Valenti is included in the workflow as the person who signs off employment. Ms. Galati told St. 香港三级片 County and Ms. Valenti she didn鈥檛 want to be employed or be paid. Upon that and upon being told employment could potentially violate the law, Ms. Valenti properly did her job and rejected the employment.鈥
Valenti was indicted by a grand jury last week on forgery and other charges. Her attorney, Joe Hogan, told the Post-Dispatch he expected Bell鈥檚 successor to dismiss the case.
Bell argued that Hancock鈥檚 removal was necessary 鈥渢o prevent further misconduct and retaliation.鈥
He told reporters he anticipates more charges to be filed in connection to the cover-up.
鈥淲e started seeing evidence of information that was being leaked prior to us even announcing it,鈥 Bell said. 鈥淔or example, prior to a true bill even being approved by the grand jury. This information was being leaked, and that means that there鈥檚 a potential that someone in our office or in county government was doing that.鈥
The St. 香港三级片 County council met on Nov. 12 and passed an additional budget for the prosecuting attorney's office. However, council members were not happy to do so, saying they would "reluctantly" pass the funding or that they were "holding their nose" while voting yes. Video courtesy of St. 香港三级片 County, edited by Jenna Jones.
