The ongoing saga of the St. Louis County nepotism scandal continues, as Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell makes another bid to unseat County Councilman Dennis Hancock. In a press conference, Bell refiled a quo warranto petition, implicating Hancock in a coverup over the hiring of his stepdaughter, according to KSDK. The move came after Bell had previously withdrawn a similar petition to pursue further investigation.
Hancock, whose hiring of his stepdaughter Hollie Galati reputedly violated Missouri's nepotism laws, was initially subjected to a ruling barring him from the council chambers, yet a short duration later, was allowed to attend a council meeting and cast a crucial vote remotely. Despite these twists, Hancock's defense seems to stick to the denial of any wrongdoing. Hancock stated on Aug. 29, "If I was removed from the council, then I wouldn't have been able to vote on the bill to allow the county council to hire their own attorneys, and put that on the ballot for the voters to decide," in a statement obtained by KSDK.
Accompanying the charges against Hancock, Bell's further investigation has led to allegations against St. Louis County Council clerk Diann Valenti. Through examination, Bell's office claims to have found falsified screenshots meant to demonstrate that Galati was not paid, being shared in an attempt to mislead the public. Bell said, "Councilman Hancock misled the public, misled the media, and this whole machinery of false information, false narratives, false documentation began as a result," in revelations reported by St. Louis Public Radio.
Despite the prosecutor's efforts, the council's response has been to rally in defense of Valenti, who faces forgery and other misdemeanor charges, with Council Chairwoman Shalonda Webb criticizing Bell and County Executive Sam Page, saying, "When it comes to our employees, they are not political folly. Sam Page has once again demonstrated an inability to lead with integrity, instead resorting to manipulative self-serving tactics that serve only to boost his fragile ego," as reported by St. Louis Public Radio. Bell, who maintains that the actions taken are not political, was disheartened by the remarks, stating, "It is disappointing to me that the chair, without having access to the information, would make statements that she has no idea if they're true or not," as per a St. Louis Public Radio interview.
Amidst the turmoil, unanswered questions continue to plague Diann Valenti's role in the affair with her indictment freshly released. While the charges against her remain unspecified, evidence brought forward suggests attempts were made to alter Galati's employment status from a new hire to rejected after the fact. Galati's alleged salary of $24.88 an hour counters previous claims that her work was voluntary and unpaid, as mentioned in a report by Spectrum Local News. Stay tuned as this case continues to unfold amidst the complicated tapestry of local politics.
