The Democrat Celebration has lengthy marketed itself because the defender of democracy and integrity. But, in Missouri’s largest county, the get together’s highest-ranking official now faces severe prison costs for abusing the general public belief.
On Wednesday, St. Louis County Govt Sam Page was indicted on 4 counts for allegedly misusing taxpayer {dollars} to sway voters towards an April poll measure designed to examine his energy.
The case, introduced ahead by Missouri Legal professional Normal Andrew Bailey’s workplace, is a regarding reminder of how entrenched corruption has change into in Democrat-controlled native governments.
Based on the indictment, Web page, who has been in workplace since 2019, directed $35,000 in county funds to supply and distribute greater than 50,000 flyers and mailers opposing Proposition B.
The poll initiative would have given the St. Louis County Council extra oversight authority, together with the power to take away division heads appointed by the manager.
Web page’s workplace used taxpayer {dollars} to distribute a mailer warning that the proposal might end in division heads being “fired throughout emergencies like snowstorms” or dismissed for “political causes.”
WATCH: Democrats like NANCY PELOSI and LETITIA JAMES EXPOSED on The Patriot Perspective—uncovering MAJOR insider buying and selling & CORRUPTION scandals.
In different phrases, public cash was spent to not inform voters neutrally, however to guard Web page’s political energy.
The costs embody two felony counts of stealing greater than $750 and two misdemeanor election offenses. Mixed, they carry penalties of as much as 13 years in jail and fines as excessive as $24,000.
Bailey, a Republican, was clear in his assertion: “Public officers should observe the legislation, and my workplace will work to make sure that they at all times do.”
He added that any intentional misuse of taxpayer funds to affect an election quantities to “rigging the end result.”
Missouri legislation couldn’t be clearer. Since 1988, political subdivisions have been barred from utilizing taxpayer cash to advocate for or towards poll measures.
Native governments are permitted to offer factual details about proposals, a standard follow when faculty boards pursue bond points or native governments search tax modifications.
However they can not marketing campaign. Web page’s choice to cross that line—after which declare that his supplies have been “impartial”—is a textbook instance of corruption hidden below the disguise of governance.
READ the FULL REPORT on these CORRUPT POLITICIANS and WHAT THEY DID—CLICK HERE
The indictment lands in a county already scarred by scandal. Web page’s predecessor, Democrat Steve Stenger, resigned in 2019 after pleading responsible to bribery, mail fraud, and theft of trustworthy providers.
Stenger was sentenced to 4 years in jail. Web page was supposed to characterize a clear break from that tradition of corruption, however as an alternative, he might face the identical destiny.
The fact that two consecutive county executives at the moment are indicted underscores how deeply corruption runs by means of the Democrat machine in St. Louis County.
Proposition B itself was the product of growing pressure between Web page and the county council. Six of the seven council members opposed Web page, and the measure would have stripped his unilateral management over division management.
Regardless of the misuse of taxpayer {dollars}, voters nonetheless rejected the measure by greater than 60 p.c.
Mockingly, Web page’s illegal use of public funds might not even have been obligatory, however that makes the offense no much less severe. If something, it demonstrates how far some Democrats will go to guard their very own authority—even when the end result is already leaning of their favor.
Democrats frequently accuse Republicans of “attacking democracy” each time election legal guidelines are tightened or poll safety measures are enforced.
But in Missouri, it’s a Democrat who stands accused of breaking election legislation for private acquire. The indictment of Sam Web page is not only a neighborhood scandal—it’s a warning. When public officers imagine they’ll misuse taxpayer funds to control elections, democracy itself is undermined.
Missouri voters deserve accountability, and if Web page is convicted, his downfall will mark one other chapter within the Democrat Celebration’s lengthy historical past of corruption in St. Louis County.
