Who is Andrew Bailey? Parson’s lawyer being considered for Missouri AG

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is considering appointing Andrew Bailey, one of his top advisors, to succeed Senator-elect Eric Schmitt as state attorney general.

Sources familiar with the appointment process said Parson has interviewed Bailey for the position.

Bailey, who is from Rhineland, has never held an elected office. He was hired as Parson’s general counsel last year after serving as deputy since 2019. Before working in the governor’s office, he was the general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections.

An Army veteran, Bailey also worked as assistant prosecuting attorney in Warren County. He also worked as an assistant attorney general under former Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster.

While working as Parson’s general counsel, records revealed that Bailey helped draft talking points that Parson used to argue that a St. Louis Post Dispatch journalist should be prosecuted for uncovering a security flaw on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.

Parson’s effort was roundly criticized by free press advocates and the Cole County prosecutor declined to pursue charges against the journalist in February.