Multiple news outlets in Missouri are reporting that current State Representative Brian Nieves, R-Washington, MO, who recently was victorious in the Republican primary race for the 26th District state Senate seat, is being investigated for terrorizing a rival's aide, Shawn Bell, the day after the election.
The 26th District includes part of St Louis and Franklin counties.
From the St Louis Post-Dispatch's website:
Shawn Bell, a young political operative hired to run the campaign of Nieves' Republican challenger, has filed a complaint with Washington, Mo., police, alleging that during a visit to Nieves' campaign office last Wednesday, he was head-butted, threatened with a gun and forced to apologize for campaign tactics.
In bullying tactics that have become quite familiar in the GOP, particularly in Missouri where the antics devolved from junior high level behavior of making raspberries noises during session to outright assault (see: Jetton, Rod)the Washington Missourianreports:
Bell worked on the campaign of Dick Stratman, an opponent of Nieves. Nieves sharply criticized Bell during the campaign on his local radio show alleging Bell was responsible for some of the negative attacks against him.
Nieves called Bell a "girly man" and other insults on his radio show.
More from the Post:
According to Bell's handwritten police complaint, obtained by the Post-Dispatch, Bell stopped by Nieves' campaign headquarters the day after the election to congratulate an aide there on the victory. Bell alleges he stepped inside, was grabbed by Nieves and was thrown against a wall. Bell says he looked for help from the aide he was visiting, but the Nieves aide instead "closed the office blinds and locked the door," according to the statement. Nieves then pulled a black gun from his pocket and placed it deliberately on a table, telling Bell that he was going to kill him, according to the sworn statement. Nieves then allegedly head-butted Bell and slapped him several times.
Bell wrote in the complaint that Nieves was apparently worried that Bell was "wearing a wire" so he had Bell strip off his shirt. Nieves then had Bell call Nieves' wife to apologize for a letter that had been making the rounds during the campaign — a letter of dubious origins that claimed Nieves cheated on his wife, which Nieves denied, according to the complaint.
The St Louis Beacon reports that a court date has been set for Thursday morning in Jefferson City (Cole County) on an order of protection being sought by Bell.
The case has been referred to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's office.
Mandel said that he believed Franklin County authorities should refer the case to the Missouri Highway Patrol, which has an investigative unit. "No offense to anyone in Franklin County, but (the case) is too close to home," Mandel said. He cited Nieves' high-profile status as a legislator. Since winning the primary, Nieves is considered the overwhelming favorite to win the 26th District state Senate seat in November.