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Tag Archives: Jeff Smith

Ethical breaches mark legislators in 2009

While lawmakers spent part of the year deliberating pertinent issues, focus shifted in the offseason to legislators' ethical conduct. Two state representatives and one state senator from the St. Louis area resigned in 2009. And a former speaker of the house made news in December when he exiled himself from politics after being charged with felony assault on a woman.

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Smith gets year, Brown probation for obstruction

A federal judge sentenced former state Sen. Jeff Smith to a year and a day in prison and a $50,000 fine and former state Rep. Steve Brown to two years' probation and a $40,000 on charges of obstruction of justice related to a Federal Election Commission investigation into Smith's 2004 congressional campaign.

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Former Rep. Brown’s law license may be suspended

State legal authorities took steps today to temporarily suspend the law license of a former state legislator entangled in election violations. The Clayton attorney, Steve Brown (pictured), last month pleaded guilty with Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, to obstructing a Federal Election Commission's investigation into a complaint filed by Russ Carnahan during the 2004 Congressional election. Brown and Smith both resigned from the Legislature.

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Ohlsen investigated in 2008 Clayton bombing

Man said to be link between campaign ethics violations and state Sen. Jeff Smith

A former Democratic operative has been linked to the bombing in a Clayton parking garage that injured one Armstrong Teasdale attorney, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The newspaper said it obtained a copy of a federal warrant that allowed officials to search a downtown loft rented by Milton "Skip" Ohlsen III.

Ohlsen is said to be the link between campaign ethics violations and state Sen. Jeff Smith.

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Lawmakers resign over 2004 campaign

State Sen. Jeff Smith, Rep. Steve Brown enter guilty pleas in federal court

State legislators Jeff Smith (left) and Steve Brown (right), and campaign worker Nick Adams, pleaded guilty Tuesday to obstruction of justice related to investigations into Smith's 2004 congressional campaign. Smith and Brown resigned after entering their pleas.

See related story: Ohlsen investigated in 2008 Clayton bombing; Man said to be link between campaign ethics violations and Sen. Smith

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Smith, Brown resign seats; Nixon sets special election

State legislators Jeff Smith (left) and Steve Brown have submitted their resignation letters today to the governor's office after both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice charges. Nixon announced this afternoon that he's setting Nov. 3 as the special election date to fill the seats vacated by Smith, a senator from St. Louis, and Brown, a House member from Clayton and an attorney.

See earlier stories: Sen. Smith to resign from Senate; Lawyer: Rep. Steve Brown to plead guilty to obstructing justice

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Sen. Smith to resign from Senate

State Sen. Jeff Smith (pictured) has told a judge at a bond hearing that he will resign this afternoon in a fast-developing political scandal. Smith, D-St. Louis, and Rep. Steve Brown, D-Clayton, appeared before Judge Terry Adelman in U.S. District Court in St. Louis this afternoon. Each received $10,000 unsecured bonds. They will be back in court in a few minutes to plea guilty for charges related to irregularities in Smith's 2004 Congressional campaign.

See earlier story: Lawyer: Rep. Steve Brown to plead guilty to obstructing justice

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Lawyer: Rep. Steve Brown to plead guilty to obstructing justice

A St. Louis County state legislator and lawyer will plead guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice, according to his attorney. St. Louis attorney Art Margulis told Missouri Lawyers Media that Rep. Steve Brown (pictured), D-Clayton, would plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Margulis said that the first-term Democratic lawmaker would be in court to plead guilty at 1:30 p.m. at the federal courthouse in St. Louis.

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