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MRP Calls on Gaming Commission to Release ‘Casinogate’ Tapes

August 10, 2007

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Republican Party today called on the Missouri Gaming Commission to reconsider a decision to ignore the state’s Sunshine Law by refusing to release video surveillance tapes documenting illegal activity by Democrat state Sen. Jeff Smith and Democrat State Rep. Joe Aull at the Isle of Capri casino in Boonville.

The Gaming Commission on August 6 denied a Missouri Republican Party Sunshine Law request seeking tapes documenting Smith’s illegal activities on July 31 that led to his citation for presenting false identification to gain access to a gambling boat. While Smith faces up to six months in prison, Aull’s decision to illegally provide Smith with a player’s card as well as the activities of other Democrat lawmakers also prompted the MRP request.

While the Gaming Commission contends that the tapes seized by the Missouri State Highway Patrol are closed because they are part of an “investigative report,” the Missouri Republican Party cited the 1999 Missouri Supreme Court opinion in the case of Heymeyer versus KRCG-TV in which video surveillance was considered an open record and the issue of investigative reports was never raised.

“The Missouri Gaming Commission should reconsider this decision because the public has a right to view surveillance tapes chronicling the events leading up to Jeff Smith’s citation and the activities of others who may be culpable in this case,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “The Sunshine Law is designed to open state government to the public and the release of these surveillance tapes will do just that. Missourians have a right to know who the other lawmakers were that accompanied and condoned Smith’s illegal activity and they need to answer questions about the evening’s events that have not yet been made public.”