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Bob F. Griffin

Bob F. Griffin (August 15, 1935 – July 7, 2021) was an American politician who served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1971 to 1996 and as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996, longer than any other speaker in state history.[1]

Bob F. Griffin
Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
In office
January 7, 1981 – January 10, 1996
Preceded byKen Rothman
Succeeded bySteve Gaw
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 6th
(10th; 1973–1993)
(85th; 1971–1973) district
In office
January 6, 1971 – January 31, 1996
Preceded byRobert H. Frost
Succeeded byRandall Relford
Personal details
Born(1935-08-15)August 15, 1935
Braymer, Missouri
DiedJuly 7, 2021(2021-07-07) (aged 85)
Columbia, Missouri
Political partyDemocratic

Griffin was convicted on federal corruption charges in 1998 and was sentenced to forty eight months in prison.[2]

Early life edit

Griffin was born in Braymer, Missouri, and received a B.S. in Business Administration in 1957 and his law degree in 1958 from the University of Missouri. He served a stint in the U.S. Air Force judge advocate general corps where he rose to the rank of captain. In 1962 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Clinton County, Missouri, and opened a private law practice in Cameron, Missouri, and also served with the Kansas City law firm of Linde Thompson Fairchild Kohn and Vandyke. He was re-elected in 1966.[3]

In 1970 he was elected as a Democrat to the House from the 10th District which included portions of Clay County, Missouri, Clinton, DeKalb County, Missouri, and Caldwell County, Missouri.

Speaker edit

From 1977 to 1980 he was speaker pro tempore.[4] Griffin, noted for his genial demeanor, rose to the Speaker status in 1981—the first speaker from western Missouri since 1955. He increased the number of committees from 36 to 45 and installed several chairmen from western Missouri and Kansas City, Missouri. Griffin would steer numerous projects to western Missouri including the Western Missouri Correctional Center in his hometown in Cameron (located on Pence Rd. on the edge of Cameron).

In 1989 he was accused of steering business to his new Kansas City law firm of Kraft Fridkin and Ryhne. He was challenged for the Speaker position by St. Louis, Missouri, Democrat Tony Ribaudo.

Corruption charges edit

In January 1992 after endorsing a 6 percent gasoline tax to improve the state highway system, Griffin was accused of meeting with members of the Heavy Constructors Association of Kansas City and the Associated General Contractors of Missouri at a Jefferson City, Missouri, hotel where he told them they should hire Cathryn Simmons to lobby for the tax. The contractors paid Simmons $200,000, who reportedly paid Griffin $5,000. After the proposed tax passed the House, Simmons was said to have paid Griffin another $5,000.

In August 1992 Simmons was working for Health Midwest when she asked Griffin to remove Bill Skaggs from a committee overseeing the proposed construction of a hospital in eastern Jackson County, Missouri, which Health Midwest opposed. After Skaggs was removed and the hospital cancelled, Simmons was said to have paid Griffin $10,000.

In 1993 Griffin was arrested on a DWI charge.

After the Great Flood of 1993 Griffin pushed legislation to repair Missouri's roads. Griffin again pushed the construction companies to hire Simmons, this time for $90,000. Simmons then hired Griffin's son for $5,000.

In March 1994 Griffin was alleged to receive a $21,000 check from Simmons. Griffin defended the payment by saying he was doing private law work for Simmons.

Resignation and conviction edit

In 1994 Griffin worked with Simmons to get Sahara Casino built in Parkville, Missouri, which would require a referendum to be passed to allow slot machines. It was alleged Griffin was pushing for Simmons to receive a 20 percent stake in the casino with a secret 1 percent stake for Griffin. The casino was never built and The Kansas City Star published articles on Griffin's actions prompting state and federal prosecutors to review Griffin's activities.

On January 26, 1996, Griffin tendered his resignation effective January 31, 1996. He was indicted on October 31, 1996 on six bribery violations, two mail fraud violations, and one violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. In the first trial he was found innocent on three charges and the jury could not reach a verdict on six other charges including the RICO charge.

In the second trial, Simmons testified against him.[5] Griffin pleaded guilty on the second day of the second trial, to two counts of bribery and mail fraud in conjunction with the original highway scheme. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison, a $7,500 fine, and a $100 special penalty assessment.[6][7]

In January 2001 President Bill Clinton commuted (or lessened) what was left of his sentence without negating his conviction.[8][9][10]

He died on July 7, 2021, in Columbia, Missouri, at age 85.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "Missouri Legislative Officers".
  2. ^ Terry Ganey, Post-Dispatch Jefferson City Bureau Chief, Griffin Got Paid, Sure, but a Fee or a Bribe? 2019-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Griffin's legacy tarnished by charges Ex-speaker's bribery and racketeering trial is set to begin Monday - The Kansas City Star - May 11, 1997
  4. ^ American Legislative Leaders in the Midwest, 1911-199 by Charles F. Ritter (Adapter), Jon L. Wakelyn (Adapter), Nancy Weatherly Sharp (Editor), James Roger Sharp (Editor), Gina Petonito (Editor), Kevin G. Atwater (Editor) - Greenwood Press (November 30, 1997) ISBN 0-313-30214-6
  5. ^ A long hard fall from grace - The Kansas City Star - December 5, 1997
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on 2010-05-17. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  7. ^ United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit (August 17, 1998). "UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Bob F. GRIFFIN, Appellant, No. 97-4321". findlaw.com.
  8. ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. January 2001.
  9. ^ https://www.orlandosentinel.com | December 23, 2000 | CLINTON GIVES OUT PARDONS | Robert A. Rosenblatt, Los Angeles Times | THE ORLANDO SENTINEL | [1]
  10. ^ . 2015-01-12. Archived from the original on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  11. ^ "Bob Griffin, longest-serving Missouri House speaker, forced out by scandal, dies at 85". Kansascity.com. 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
1981– 1996
Succeeded by

griffin, former, american, college, football, coach, griffin, august, 1935, july, 2021, american, politician, served, missouri, house, representatives, from, 1971, 1996, speaker, missouri, house, representatives, from, 1981, 1996, longer, than, other, speaker,. For the former American college football coach see Bob Griffin Bob F Griffin August 15 1935 July 7 2021 was an American politician who served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1971 to 1996 and as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996 longer than any other speaker in state history 1 Bob F GriffinSpeaker of the Missouri House of RepresentativesIn office January 7 1981 January 10 1996Preceded byKen RothmanSucceeded bySteve GawMember of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 6th 10th 1973 1993 85th 1971 1973 districtIn office January 6 1971 January 31 1996Preceded byRobert H FrostSucceeded byRandall RelfordPersonal detailsBorn 1935 08 15 August 15 1935Braymer MissouriDiedJuly 7 2021 2021 07 07 aged 85 Columbia MissouriPolitical partyDemocratic Griffin was convicted on federal corruption charges in 1998 and was sentenced to forty eight months in prison 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Speaker 3 Corruption charges 3 1 Resignation and conviction 4 ReferencesEarly life editGriffin was born in Braymer Missouri and received a B S in Business Administration in 1957 and his law degree in 1958 from the University of Missouri He served a stint in the U S Air Force judge advocate general corps where he rose to the rank of captain In 1962 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Clinton County Missouri and opened a private law practice in Cameron Missouri and also served with the Kansas City law firm of Linde Thompson Fairchild Kohn and Vandyke He was re elected in 1966 3 In 1970 he was elected as a Democrat to the House from the 10th District which included portions of Clay County Missouri Clinton DeKalb County Missouri and Caldwell County Missouri Speaker editFrom 1977 to 1980 he was speaker pro tempore 4 Griffin noted for his genial demeanor rose to the Speaker status in 1981 the first speaker from western Missouri since 1955 He increased the number of committees from 36 to 45 and installed several chairmen from western Missouri and Kansas City Missouri Griffin would steer numerous projects to western Missouri including the Western Missouri Correctional Center in his hometown in Cameron located on Pence Rd on the edge of Cameron In 1989 he was accused of steering business to his new Kansas City law firm of Kraft Fridkin and Ryhne He was challenged for the Speaker position by St Louis Missouri Democrat Tony Ribaudo Corruption charges editIn January 1992 after endorsing a 6 percent gasoline tax to improve the state highway system Griffin was accused of meeting with members of the Heavy Constructors Association of Kansas City and the Associated General Contractors of Missouri at a Jefferson City Missouri hotel where he told them they should hire Cathryn Simmons to lobby for the tax The contractors paid Simmons 200 000 who reportedly paid Griffin 5 000 After the proposed tax passed the House Simmons was said to have paid Griffin another 5 000 In August 1992 Simmons was working for Health Midwest when she asked Griffin to remove Bill Skaggs from a committee overseeing the proposed construction of a hospital in eastern Jackson County Missouri which Health Midwest opposed After Skaggs was removed and the hospital cancelled Simmons was said to have paid Griffin 10 000 In 1993 Griffin was arrested on a DWI charge After the Great Flood of 1993 Griffin pushed legislation to repair Missouri s roads Griffin again pushed the construction companies to hire Simmons this time for 90 000 Simmons then hired Griffin s son for 5 000 In March 1994 Griffin was alleged to receive a 21 000 check from Simmons Griffin defended the payment by saying he was doing private law work for Simmons Resignation and conviction edit In 1994 Griffin worked with Simmons to get Sahara Casino built in Parkville Missouri which would require a referendum to be passed to allow slot machines It was alleged Griffin was pushing for Simmons to receive a 20 percent stake in the casino with a secret 1 percent stake for Griffin The casino was never built and The Kansas City Star published articles on Griffin s actions prompting state and federal prosecutors to review Griffin s activities On January 26 1996 Griffin tendered his resignation effective January 31 1996 He was indicted on October 31 1996 on six bribery violations two mail fraud violations and one violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act In the first trial he was found innocent on three charges and the jury could not reach a verdict on six other charges including the RICO charge In the second trial Simmons testified against him 5 Griffin pleaded guilty on the second day of the second trial to two counts of bribery and mail fraud in conjunction with the original highway scheme He was sentenced to 48 months in prison a 7 500 fine and a 100 special penalty assessment 6 7 In January 2001 President Bill Clinton commuted or lessened what was left of his sentence without negating his conviction 8 9 10 He died on July 7 2021 in Columbia Missouri at age 85 11 References edit Missouri Legislative Officers Terry Ganey Post Dispatch Jefferson City Bureau Chief Griffin Got Paid Sure but a Fee or a Bribe Archived 2019 09 01 at the Wayback Machine Griffin s legacy tarnished by charges Ex speaker s bribery and racketeering trial is set to begin Monday The Kansas City Star May 11 1997 American Legislative Leaders in the Midwest 1911 199 by Charles F Ritter Adapter Jon L Wakelyn Adapter Nancy Weatherly Sharp Editor James Roger Sharp Editor Gina Petonito Editor Kevin G Atwater Editor Greenwood Press November 30 1997 ISBN 0 313 30214 6 A long hard fall from grace The Kansas City Star December 5 1997 154 F 3d 762 Archived from the original on 2010 05 17 Retrieved 2010 05 17 United States Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit August 17 1998 UNITED STATES of America Appellee v Bob F GRIFFIN Appellant No 97 4321 findlaw com Jet Johnson Publishing Company January 2001 https www orlandosentinel com December 23 2000 CLINTON GIVES OUT PARDONS Robert A Rosenblatt Los Angeles Times THE ORLANDO SENTINEL 1 Commutations Remissions and Reprieves Granted by President William J Clinton 1993 2001 2015 01 12 Archived from the original on 2015 03 27 Retrieved 2019 09 01 Bob Griffin longest serving Missouri House speaker forced out by scandal dies at 85 Kansascity com 2021 07 07 Retrieved 2021 07 07 Political offices Preceded byKen Rothman Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives1981 1996 Succeeded bySteve Gaw Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bob F Griffin amp oldid 1216605200, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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