August 6, 2024:

Primary Election. Only two candidates for County Commissioner have filed to run. Both appear on the primary ballot together, as both are running as Republicans. The elected person in question was the winner of that primary.


October 19, 2024:

Event takes place which involves the elected person in question. This event has riled up the community, which is demanding answers.


October 23, 2024:

A video is posted by the event organizer while he sits in front of a camera explaining the event. The below is a quote, word for word from that video.


November 5, 2024:

The general election takes place, the elected person in question is the only party on the ballot for that position. He is sworn in this January, and there is another issue aside from this involving his position(s).


The quote from the video:

quote:

We approached the owner of the business understanding that it was an inconvenience, and he had a beautiful farm, and this was a big day for him. We actually had five different interactions with the owner of the farm throughout the morning. And (name redacted) wanted us to pay him $10,000. The direct quote was “Ten thousand dollars and this all goes away, or we’ll see how far his goes”.

During those interactions he also made it known to our team that he would be a county commissioner in January, and that he would do everything within his power to make sure the event was illegal in the state.

We fully understand that this was an inconvenience to him, and while we always attempt to make things right, the tone and tenor of the conversation, and also knowing his position or soon to be position, it didn’t feel right paying that money, and it didn’t feel ethical. So we went on with the rest of our cleanup which was done by about 1:00 PM.

Missouri Revised Statutes 576.020

Public servant acceding to corruption - penalty

1. A public servant commits the offense of acceding to corruption if he or she knowingly solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any benefit, direct or indirect, in return for his or her:

(1) Official vote, opinion, recommendation, judgement, decision, action, or exercise of discretion as a public servant; or

(2) Violation of a known legal duty as a public servant.

2. The offense of acceding to corruption by a public servant is a class E felony.

Where's the proof?

quote:

Where's the proof?

The statement from the person shown in the video that was a party to those conversations.

I've been told that text messages may also exist to that extent, but I have not seen those. Just the video.

Perhaps an investigation based on the claim made in the video would turn up some evidence.