Former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner recently admitted to misusing over $5,000 in public funds. In a federal court plea agreement announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, Gardner confessed to instructing her employees to issue checks totaling $5,004.33.
The funds in question were from the Contingent Fund Account in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office and were used to reimburse Gardner for fees and costs she personally incurred from a court order by the Missouri Supreme Court in August 30, 2022. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Missouri statute dictates that the contingent fund should only be used for necessary expenses related to the duties of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.
Gardner’s plea agreement revealed that the diverted funds were deposited into her personal bank account and used for personal expenses unrelated to her job responsibilities or the office’s operations. She was not legally entitled to this additional compensation. As part of her pretrial diversion program in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, Gardner must adhere to specific conditions for 18 months, including refraining from breaking any laws, reporting to a pretrial services officer, and following their instructions. Additionally, she is required to repay the $5,004.33 in diverted funds to the Circuit Attorney’s Office as restitution.
Gardner’s tenure as St. Louis Circuit Attorney, which began in January 2017 and ended in May 2023, was tumultuous. She faced legal challenges through quo warranto and indirect criminal contempt cases, leading to mounting pressure from prosecutors for her resignation. The situation escalated when an out-of-state teenage girl lost her legs in a St. Louis crash in February 2023, involving a suspect out on bond for a pending robbery case.
Described as a “rudderless ship of chaos” by a judge in court proceedings, Gardner’s actions have raised concerns about her leadership. The story is still developing, and FOX 2 will provide updates as more information becomes available.
