Impeachment Hearing for Ellisville Mayor Extended to Election Day

After five hours worth of testimony and plenty of legal sparring at Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul's impeachment hearing Monday night, his lawyer stood up to declare "I don't think we are going to finish tonight."

The hearing to consider a resolution removing Paul from office began at 6 p.m. at Ellisville Elementary School and drew hundreds, largely his supporters. It is now set to continue in the same venue, provided that it is available, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, just after polls close on an election day that will bring new faces to the Ellisville City Council. 

Special counsel appointed by the city to prosecute its case and preside over the hearing along with Paul's attorney, Chet Pleban, reached an agreement after a brief discussion at around 11 p.m. to hold one more hour's worth of testimony and than adjourn until the next day. 

Pleban said he was concerned that to continue on any longer would be in violation of Sunshine Law statutes that requires "reasonable accommodation" for the public to attend the hearing. 

The unusual timing would mean that the council will be considering the allegations as election results are coming in, but it will not impact, at this point, the composition of the council members who decide if the charges against Paul merit his removal. 

Several hours were taken up by preliminary motions from Pleban, who argued that Paul wasn't receiving a fair trial, before the hearing moved on to testimony from prosecution's witnesses with the proceedings continuing much like a trial with objections and cross-examinations. 

Read Patch's previous coverage:

• Ellisville Impeachment Hearing Is On: Judge Denies Restraining Orde
• Attorney for Ellisville Mayor Says Emails Undermine Impeachment Case
• Suspended Ellisville Mayor Says Impeachment Was "Orchestrated"
• Impeachment Fight Focusing on Motivations of Ellisville City Attorney
• Ellisville Moves to Drop Some Charges in Impeachment Case