ST. LOUIS — After several days of silence, a key ally of Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner has spoken on the accident that critically injured a visiting teenager in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ and the controversy swirling around the ºüÀêÊÓƵ prosecutor.
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-ºüÀêÊÓƵ, released a statement Friday afternoon that said she was “heartbroken†about the accident, adding that the victim and her family deserve “full accountability.â€
But, the situation, Bush said, “isn’t about any one prosecutor or judge.
“The harm that Janae Edmondson has endured is emblematic of a system-wide failure.â€
Janae, a 17-year-old athlete from Tennessee who was visiting ºüÀêÊÓƵ with her parents, had both legs amputated after she was struck by a car driven by a man who had violated his bond more than 50 times.
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Bush has been a visible and vocal supporter of Gardner in the past and has appeared on several occasions with the circuit attorney.
In August 2020, Bush, Gardner and ºüÀêÊÓƵ Mayor Tishaura O. Jones appeared together to celebrate their elections.
Then in 2021, after Jones had been elected mayor, the three joined local activists and met at both ºüÀêÊÓƵ jails to witness conditions and highlight efforts at corrections reform.
But on Wednesday, in their first public split, Jones criticized Gardner for the handling of the case.
Stopping just short of calling for her resignation, Jones said Gardner “really needs to do some soul-searching of whether or not she wants to continue as Circuit Attorney — because she’s lost the trust of the people.â€
In her statement, Bush, however, declined to direct any remarks toward Gardner’s action, instead saying: “Accountability is layered, and in order to obtain the full accountability this situation rightfully demands, each layer must be addressed.â€
Further on the “layer†theme, Bush said, “There were decisions all across our criminal legal system that contributed to this tragedy — and our community deserves answers.â€
“It is clear that our city’s institutions must work more closely together to advance community safety policies that would have prevented the horrific violence that Janae Edmondson has faced.â€
While avoiding the placement of any specific blame on Gardner or her office, Bush did direct some of the statement toward Gardner’s critics:
“We cannot allow this tragedy to be weaponized by reactionary forces whose sole mission is to expand brutal and arbitrary (prison) strategies that make us less safe,†Bush said.
“And we must reject disingenuous, misogynistic, and racist calls by state officials to circumvent the will of ºüÀêÊÓƵans,†she said.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey already has begun a civil lawsuit to oust Gardner, accusing her of failing to perform her duties.
Updated at 4:51 p.m.
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