Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has issued a press release claiming that former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has been evasive, thereby hindering his office’s probe into allegations of improper spending during her tenure. Fitzpatrick has made various attempts to contact Gardner for an interview, with all proving unsuccessful thus far.
The auditor’s approach drew criticism from Adolphus Pruitt, President of St. Louis City NAACP, who labeled it as unwarranted and unprofessional. According to a report by First Alert 4, Pruitt faulted Fitzpatrick for creating an impression that Gardner is a wanted criminal.
However, Fitzpatrick insists that any delays in producing the audit are attributable to Gardner’s refusal to cooperate and provide insight into decisions she made while managing the office. A report by the Associated Press suggests that during her entire office term, Gardner, a Democrat and the city’s first Black circuit attorney, constantly faced opposition from Republicans.
Pruitt resigned in May 2023 following claims that her office was in disarray. The pursuit of Gardner by the state auditor now raises several questions regarding the accurate dissemination of audit information and accountability in public offices.