Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey pledged to uphold and enforce laws as a "constitutional conservative" with an "unyielding pursuit of victory."
Bailey, 41, was sworn in as Missouri's 44th attorney general Tuesday in front of a packed audience at the state Supreme Court building. Judge Kelly Broniec of the Eastern District Missouri Court of Appeals administered the oath, in which Bailey pledged to uphold the U.S. and Missouri constitutions as the state's chief legal officer.
Bailey said his experiences as a combat veteran and prosecuting attorney will guide who he is in the role. He recalled leading his platoon through a car bomb ambush during one of his two tours in Iraq.
"These lessons I learned on the streets of industrial Iraq taught me who I am, how to accomplish a mission at hand and how to take care of people," he said.
"I will lead this office with the same steady hand and unyielding pursuit of victory," he continued, "because we will defend our Constitution and represent the people of this state."
Gov. Mike Parson announced Bailey's appointment Nov. 23, 2022. Bailey, a Republican, most recently served as the governor's general counsel and will finish the remaining two years of Eric Schmitt's term.
Schmitt, who Parson appointed attorney general in 2018, was elected to the U.S. Senate in November and was sworn in Tuesday.
Bailey said he plans to run for the office in 2024.
Parson said he received a commitment from Bailey that he would run exclusively for attorney general next election year. The past two men to serve in the role, Schmitt and Sen. Josh Hawley, mounted successful U.S. Senate runs that prevented them from completing their terms as attorney general.
"I really want some stability in the Attorney General's Office, and I think Andrew's going to bring that," Parson said.
Bailey declined to state priorities for his two years in office when his appointment was announced.
He said Tuesday consumer protection and violent crime are among his top priorities. On the violent crime front, Bailey said local communities have "got to get it under control," adding the Attorney General's Office stands ready to assist.
When asked about video lottery terminals, the "gray market" gambling machines found throughout the state, Bailey again referred to local law enforcement and prosecutors.
"The Attorney General's Office stands ready to assist or play whatever role the General Assembly may deem appropriate when it comes to those machines," he said.
Bailey said his office is still reviewing lawsuits created by his predecessor. Schmitt filed lawsuits to prop up a wide range of conservative stances, taking aim at social media companies for allegedly censoring free speech and suing school districts for requiring masks and conducting diversity training, which he labels critical race theory. He also sued to block President Joe Biden's student debt forgiveness plan.
"We are absolutely going to look at every lawsuit," Bailey said. "I'm not here to start dismissing lawsuits. We're going to continue to push back against President Biden's illicit federal overreach, and we're going to look for new opportunities to do that in the coming days."
Bailey vowed to enforce laws as written. He said that includes Missouri's ban on homeless people sleeping on public land and the state's Sunshine Law.
A Cole County judge in November found the Attorney General's Office violated the Sunshine Law when Hawley was at the helm. Office staff, including the records custodian, used personal email accounts to communicate with Hawley's political consultants in 2018 as he formed his Senate campaign and then claimed to not have records when they were requested.
"I'm not going to second-guess how other offices have carried out their legal responsibilities under the transparency laws, I can only be responsible for how I'm going to do it," Bailey said. "We're going to make sure we're doing it as effectively and efficiently as possible -- enforcing the law as written."
Bailey said he brings leadership experience and legal skills to the position.
As the chief legal officer in the state, the attorney general is responsible for providing legal advice to most state agencies, defending state laws from legal challenges, enforcing civil laws such as consumer protections and environmental laws, and handling all felony conviction appeals across the state. It pays approximately $116,436 per year.
Bailey described himself as a "constitutional conservative," adding "the history of the words written down informs the proper understanding of the definition of those words."
The former Warren County prosecutor said the U.S. Constitution represents a national identity formed on the legal agreement that everyone is created equally and rights come from God. He said the legal system is designed to protect those rights, even when it's inconvenient.
The Missouri Constitution comes from the will of the people and the government it creates is "instituted for the good of the people," Bailey said.
Parson said Bailey's appointment was based in part on what he could provide the state into the future.
"I learned a long time ago not everybody's going to agree with the selection you make," the governor said. "But it's important you get it right to make sure it does have everything to do with where our state goes in the future."
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune
Andrew Bailey holds one of his children before being sworn in as the Attorney General of Missouri on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at the Missouri Supreme Court building. Bailey and his wife, Jessica, have four children that were in attendance.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune
Andrew Bailey is sworn in as Attorney General of Missouri on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at the Missouri Supreme Court building. Bailey was sworn in by The Honorable Kelly Broniec with the Missouri Court of Appeals.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Triune
Andrew Bailey speaks offically as the new Attorney General of Missouri for the first time on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at the Missouri Supreme Court building. Bailey was sworn in by The Honorable Kelly Broniec with the Missouri Court of Appeals.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune
First Lady Teresa and Governor Mike Parson listen to Attorney General Andrew Bailey's formal remarks on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at the Missouri Supreme Court building. Bailey was sworn in officially as Missouri's new attorney general.