Andrew Bailey, general counsel to Missouri governor, named new attorney general

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JEFFERSON CITY ― Missouri Gov. Mike Parson named his office's attorney, Andrew Bailey, as the state's next attorney general Wednesday.

Bailey, a Rhineland resident and Army veteran who served in Iraq, has worked in the governor's office as an attorney since 2019. He previously worked as an assistant AG, in the state Department of Corrections and in the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.

In his opening remarks, Bailey touted his team's work in the governor's office: pointing to a "record low" number of abortions through Missouri's ban, preventing "a statewide COVID shutdown" by opting to leave pandemic restrictions to local entities, saying "no to vaccine mandates," and fighting back "against President Biden's federal overreach."

"I'm battle-tested and I am ready for this job," Bailey said. "I'm going to bring my leadership, my legal experience, my fighting spirit and all of the intellectual firepower I have to bear on this mission, and I will deliver victories for the people of this state."

Bailey will succeed Eric Schmitt, who will leave the post in January to join the U.S. Senate. Bailey enters an office that has been previously occupied by two men who successfully sought higher office in Schmitt and Josh Hawley. He said Wednesday he intended to run for a full term in 2024.

As the top elected lawyer in the state, Bailey will hold broad authority to bring lawsuits against entities and open investigations.

In addition to typical AG litigation such as joining class-action lawsuits and enforcing consumer protection laws, Schmitt frequently sued political opponents, including school districts and the federal government. Two of his most prominent ongoing lawsuits include allegations of censorship between the White House and major social media networks, as well as an attempt to block the Biden administration's student debt relief program.

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Bailey said he would overview the office's current case load and wouldn't commit to "specific lawsuits," but praised the previous occupants' litigation and track records.

"It's going to take time to look at every case the office has in front of it," Bailey said. "There's a legacy of excellence that both General Hawley and General Schmitt are leaving behind that I intend to continue and carry on."

The attorney general's office also activated Missouri's abortion ban this summer, and has been in court attempting to shut down Agape Boarding School following allegations of abuse. Bailey, who has previously practiced juvenile law, said he believed Missouri "should be the safest state in the nation for children," and pledged to "use every resource the office has available to pursue cases where we think children are in imminent danger or pursuant to the statute."

As general counsel in the governor's office, Bailey played a role in the criminal investigation into a St. Louis journalist who found a data vulnerability in a state website. That case was closed after a county prosecutor declined to press charges, but Bailey defended the office's actions, saying "I would discourage anyone from violating" the state law he and Parson believed was at play.

In a statement following Bailey's appointment, Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield called on Bailey to dismiss Schmitt's "frivolous lawsuits that haven't already been laughed out of court."

"This is an essential step to restoring the integrity of the office and demonstrating that, for the first time in years, Missouri has an attorney general who will put the legal interests of all Missourians ahead of the political ambitions of one," Quade said.

Bailey marks the second attorney general Parson has appointed during his time in office, and he will also be able to name a new state treasurer with current officeholder Scott Fitzpatrick taking control of the auditor's office in January.

The appointments have allowed the second-term governor to drastically shape the state's political landscape and install allies as prominent figures. Parson said while interviewing candidates, he looked for "strength and stability" in the role, as well as "commitment to law and order, patriotism, respect for the Constitution, conservative values and family values."

Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at gbacharier@news-leader.com, (573) 219-7440 or on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Andrew Bailey, counsel to governor's office, named next Missouri AG