Draft:List of Missouri political scandals

This is a list of political scandals which occurred in the U.S. State of Missouri. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as "a person who is professionally involved in politics", and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included.

Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal.

Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence.

Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included.

Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings.

The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later.

Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation.

Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of Missouri

 * Tricia Ashton Derges (R) State Representative from Nixa in District 140, and an Assistant Doctor at the Ozark Valley Medical Clinic, was accused of wire fraud, illegal distribution and making false statements for using nearly $900,000 in government funds for Covid treatments that had already been performed or were not performed at all. She was found guilty on 22 counts and resigned. (2022)


 * DaRon McGee (D) State Representative from the 36th District, was accused of inappropriate contact with a female staffer who was fired when she refused his advances. McGee resigned. (2019)


 * Courtney Allen Curtis (D) State Representative from Ferguson in District 74, pled guilty to three counts of wire fraud regarding for using funds from his re-election campaign for personal expenses such as travel. He was found guilty and fined $77,000, which he refused to pay.  He then resigned and was sentenced to 21 months in prison. (2019)


 * Eric Greitens (R) Governor, was accused of having an affair in 2015 as well as failing to reveal his funding sources. Top Republicans called for his resignation, and impeachment proceedings were convened when he resigned. (2018)


 * John Diehl (politician) (R) State Representative and Speaker of the House from District 89, was discovered to be having a sexting relationship with his female college freshman intern. He stepped down as Speaker and then resigned his seat as well. (2015)
 * Paul LeVota (D) State Senator from Independence in District 11, was accused of making sexual advances to his college interns and retaliating when they refused. LaVota denied the claims, but at the urging of top Democratic officials, he resigned. (2015)
 * Steve Webb (D) State Representative from District 67, was accused of using $3,000 of campaign funds for personal use. He was found guilty, resigned, and sentenced to 45 days in jail, 45 days home detention and five years probation. (2013)


 * Raymond E. Salva (D) State Representative from District 51, illegally concealed his income while accepting $59,000 in disability payments. He pled guilty and repaid the money. (2013)


 * Roger B. Wilson (D) Governor, was accused of shifting $8,000 from a Missouri state run insurance fund to the Democratic Party, and trying to hide the transfer by running it through a law firm using bogus receipts. He was found guilty, of money laundering, sentenced to two years of probation, and fined $2,000. (2012)


 * Talibdin El-Amin (D) State Representative from St. Louis, was convicted of taking a $2,100 bribe from a gas station to ‘take care’ of city inspectors. He pled guilty and was sentenced to eighteen months in prison with two years of probation. (2010)


 * Rod Jetton (R) State Representative and Speaker of the House from the 156th District, was charged with felony assault for "recklessly causing serious physical injury" to an unnamed woman during sadomasochistic sex. He pled guilty to assault, was sentenced to probation and fined $1200. (2010)