Jefferson City, Missouri – The Bailey for Missouri campaign vehemently condemns the recent advertisement released by the Political Action Committee, Defend Missouri, in support of Missouri Attorney General candidate Will Scharf. This reprehensible and misleading advertisement exploits the tragic murder case of Hermann Police Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith.
The actions of Defend Missouri not only jeopardize the ongoing prosecution efforts by Attorney General Bailey’s office but also threaten the possibility of seeking the death penalty by potentially biasing the jury pool. It is widely known that the rules of professional conduct prohibit a prosecutor from generating pre-trial publicity, especially in a case where the Attorney General is seeking the ultimate punishment. This creates an enormous injustice in the Attorney General race, leaving General Bailey unable to counter these false attacks while Will Scharf and his associates continue to mislead voters.
Furthermore, the advertisement demonstrates a complete and utter disregard for Detective
Sergeant Griffith’s grieving family, including his wife and two young sons, who have already
endured unimaginable pain and trauma. They should not be subjected to the distressing images of their loved one’s murderer on television.
In response to this disgraceful advertisement, the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement condemning the ad and called on Will Scharf to demand its immediate removal and issue a personal apology to the family of the fallen officer. The Law Enforcement Legislative Coalition (LELC) has also condemned the advertisement and called for its removal and an apology from Scharf.
