In March 2024, a violent altercation in a St. Louis suburb between a Black student and a white student left the latter seriously injured, prompting Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to place blame squarely on the Hazelwood School District. Despite the incident occurring after hours and over half a mile from the campus, Bailey seized upon it as a rallying point to attack the district’s policies on diversity and safety.
In a letter to the district’s superintendent, Bailey accused the school of prioritizing “race-based policies over basic student safety” and demanded documentation regarding its diversity initiatives. He contended that the district’s ongoing conflict with local police over mandatory diversity training had left students unprotected, a claim that drew immediate rebuttal from the school board’s legal counsel. They stated that the district had ample security measures in place and that police, even if present, would not have intervened in an off-campus altercation. Moreover, investigations found no evidence indicating that race played a role in the fight.
Bailey’s actions exemplified the aggressive approach he adopted during his nearly three-year tenure as Missouri’s top law enforcement officer. Experts argue that his strategy often prioritized headlines over substantive legal action, a trend that has become increasingly common among Republican attorneys general seeking to amplify their national profiles.
His controversial tenure culminated in his unexpected appointment by President Donald Trump as a co-deputy director of the FBI in September. This transition follows a pattern set by his predecessors, Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, both of whom leveraged their positions as attorney general to advance conservative agendas and secure higher office.
Throughout his time in office, Bailey focused heavily on issues of diversity, gender rights, and abortion, framing these as battles against a “woke” left that he claimed was threatening conservative values. His strategies included aggressive communication tactics like cease-and-desist letters aimed at school districts over their handling of diversity and sex education, despite his earlier pledge not to misuse public records laws for expansive inquiries.
Critics have pointed out that many of Bailey’s initiatives bore the hallmarks of publicity stunts rather than genuine legal efforts. For instance, his scrutiny of the Hazelwood School District was met with legal pushback, and a subsequent investigation into the nonprofit Media Matters for America — sparked by a call from a Trump aide — was ultimately deemed retaliatory by a federal judge.
Bailey’s legal strategies frequently drew criticism for straying from the traditional, non-partisan responsibilities of the attorney general’s office, such as defending the state against lawsuits or handling criminal appeals. Instead, his office became a platform for partisan warfare, as evidenced by his involvement in contentious culture wars. This included attempts to challenge the Biden administration on various fronts and a bid to keep a woman incarcerated despite a court ruling declaring her innocent.
In a stark contrast to his predecessors, who generally maintained a non-political focus, Bailey and other Republican attorneys general have increasingly utilized their positions for political gain. This shift has been particularly evident in Missouri, where the state’s political landscape has shifted rightward, prompting Republican candidates to prioritize success in primary elections over general election strategies.
Political analysts note that Bailey’s combative tactics resonated with a Republican base eager for a fighter against perceived threats from liberal policies. Supporters argue that Bailey was simply fulfilling his campaign promises, portraying him as a defender of freedoms against what they view as government overreach.
The evolution of the attorney general’s role in Missouri reflects a broader national trend where legal offices are increasingly weaponized for political battles. This has been evident in the actions of Republican attorneys general across the country, who have frequently engaged in high-profile legal challenges against Democratic administrations and progressive initiatives.
Bailey’s ascent to the FBI illustrates how the office of attorney general has transformed from a role focused on legal representation and consumer protection into a launchpad for political ambition. With the political environment continuing to evolve, the future of the attorney general’s office in Missouri — now under the new leadership of Catherine Hanaway, who has pledged a return to more traditional legal responsibilities — remains to be seen.
As the landscape of state politics continues to shift, it raises significant questions about the role of law enforcement in the culture wars and the impact of partisan politics on the pursuit of justice and equity within communities across the nation.
