Bob F. Griffin
Encyclopedia
Bob F. Griffin (born August 15, 1935) served as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
from 1981 to 1995—longer than any other speaker in state history.
Griffin was convicted on federal corruption charges in 1998 and had his sentence commuted by Bill Clinton
in 2001.
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 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.
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
.
Griffin, noted for his genial demanor, 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 (where it is located on "Bob F. Griffin Drive").
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
, who would be assigned to a windowless office after losing to Griffin.
hotel where he told them should hire Cathryn Simmons to lobby for the tax. The contactors paid Simmons $200,000 and Simmons was reported to have paid Griffin $5,000. After the tax passed the House Simmons was said to have paid Griffin another $5,000.
In August 1992 Simmons who was working for Health Midwest 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 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 (for $90,000) to lobby. Simmons hired Griffin's son for $5,000.
In March 1994 Griffin was alleged to receive a $21,000 check from Simmons.
Griffin would defend the money by saying he was doing private law work for Simmons.
Griffin would be undone in the 1994 referendum to permit slot machines in the state. Griffin would work with the Simmons to get a Sahara Casino in Parkville, Missouri
. 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.
Griffin completed his last term at the end of 1995 and retired. 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.
Simmons testified against him in the second trial
Griffin pled 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.
In January 2001 Clinton commuted his sentence.
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
from 1981 to 1995—longer than any other speaker in state history.
Griffin was convicted on federal corruption charges in 1998 and had his sentence commuted by Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in 2001.
Early life
Griffin was born in Braymer, MissouriBraymer, Missouri
Braymer is a city in Caldwell County, Missouri, United States. The population was 910 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Braymer has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
and received a B.S. in Business Administration in 1957 and his law degree in 1958 from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. He served a stint in the U.S. Air Force judge advocate general corps where he rose rank of captain. In 1962 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Clinton County, Missouri
Clinton County, Missouri
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,979 people, 7,152 households, and 5,299 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 7,877 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
and opened a private law practice in Cameron, Missouri
Cameron, Missouri
Cameron is a city in Clinton and DeKalb Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 8,312 at the 2000 census.The Clinton County portion of Cameron is part of the Kansas City, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the DeKalb County portion is part of the St...
and also served with the Kansas City law firm of Linde Thompson Fairchild Kohn and Vandyke. He was re-elected in 1966.
In 1970 he was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the House from the 10th District which included portions of Clay County, Missouri, Clinton, DeKalb County, Missouri
DeKalb County, Missouri
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population is 12,892. The county was organized in 1845 and is named after the American Revolutionary War general Johann de Kalb. The county along with Buchanan and Andrew counties in Missouri and Doniphan County,...
and Caldwell County, Missouri
Caldwell County, Missouri
Caldwell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. , the population was 8,969. Its county seat is Kingston. The county was organized in 1836 as a haven for the Mormons, who had been previously driven from Jackson County, Missouri in November of 1833 and had been refugees in...
.
Speaker
From 1977 to 1980 he was speaker pro tempe.Griffin, noted for his genial demanor, 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
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Griffin would steer numerous projects to western Missouri including the Western Missouri Correctional Center in his hometown in Cameron (where it is located on "Bob F. Griffin Drive").
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
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Democrat Tony Ribaudo
Tony Ribaudo
Tony Ribaudo is an American politician from Missouri, on the Democratic Party. Ribaudo was born and raised in St. Louis and attended Washington University. In 1993, Ribaudo was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor of St. Louis. He finished third in the Democratic primary election behind Freeman...
, who would be assigned to a windowless office after losing to Griffin.
Corruption charges
In January 1992 after endorsing a 6 percent gasoline tax to improve the state highway system, he 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, MissouriJefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
hotel where he told them should hire Cathryn Simmons to lobby for the tax. The contactors paid Simmons $200,000 and Simmons was reported to have paid Griffin $5,000. After the tax passed the House Simmons was said to have paid Griffin another $5,000.
In August 1992 Simmons who was working for Health Midwest asked Griffin to remove Bill Skaggs from a committee overseeing the proposed construction of a hospital in eastern Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
which Health Midwest opposed. After Skaggs was removed the hospital cancelled Simmons was said to have paid Griffin $10,000.
In 1993 Griffin was arrested on a DWI
DWI
DWI is an acronym which means:* Driving while intoxicated, see Driving under the influence* Driving while impaired* Danish West Indies* Diffusion-weighted imaging, a technique used in magnetic resonance imaging* Drinking Water Inspectorate...
charge. After the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
Griffin pushed legislation to repair Missouri's roads. Griffin again pushed the construction companies to hire Simmons (for $90,000) to lobby. Simmons hired Griffin's son for $5,000.
In March 1994 Griffin was alleged to receive a $21,000 check from Simmons.
Griffin would defend the money by saying he was doing private law work for Simmons.
Griffin would be undone in the 1994 referendum to permit slot machines in the state. Griffin would work with the Simmons to get a Sahara Casino in Parkville, Missouri
Parkville, Missouri
Parkville is a city in Platte County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,059 at the 2000 census. Parkville is known for its antique shops, art galleries, and historic downtown. The city is home to Park University and English Landing Park....
. 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
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star is a McClatchy newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes...
published articles on Griffin's actions prompting state and federal prosecutors to review Griffin's activities.
Griffin completed his last term at the end of 1995 and retired. 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
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization...
. 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.
Simmons testified against him in the second trial
Griffin pled 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.
In January 2001 Clinton commuted his sentence.