Politics & Government

Councilman Denies Any 'Conspiracy' in Case Against Ellisville Mayor

Councilman Matt Pirrello says he is capable of being objective, rebuffing accusations by Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul's lawyer that the impeachment process against his client is a smear campaign,

Ellisville City Councilman Matt Pirrello has denied allegations from embattled Mayor Adam Paul that he and other council members were involved in a “conspiracy” to oust the mayor.

Paul’s lawyer, Chet Pleban, took to local airwaves Wednesday to discuss emails between Pirrello and city attorney Paul Martin that he said prove this point. The documents were obtained by Pleban after the city unsuccessfuly tried to block their release. 

According to Pleban, they show that Paul’s impeachment was part of a longer, covert campaign between the two men. He said it begin when Martin started taking notes on possible violations of the city’s charter by Paul shortly after he took office last spring.

Find out what's happening in Ballwin-Ellisvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

(For more detail on the emails, see Patch’s previous coverage: "Attorney for Ellisville Mayor Says Emails Undermine Impeachment Case")

Pirrello told Patch that the emails obtained by Paul’s legal defense simply show that the discussions concerning Paul’s conduct were part of a normal process.

Find out what's happening in Ballwin-Ellisvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This has been an ongoing problem for quite some time,” he said. “I have had several conversations about what should be done and how to handle this. There’s nothing surprising about that. It’s not some grand conspiracy.”

He described the concerns raised by Paul’s attorneys as an attempt to put a PR spin on the set of allegations against the mayor and said it did not address the facts of the case.

In the end, Pirrello said, “all the spin in the world isn’t going to change the facts,” and it will be a matter of considering the evidence for and against Paul, then rendering a decision.

“I think I have the credibility to remain objective and the ability to hear it out unbiased,” he said.

Paul and his attorney brought their argument to St. Louis Circuit Court on Wednesday in the form of a lawsuit, saying his enemies in the city are involved in a smear campaign and asking for a judge to delay the impeachment hearing currently set for April 1.

Paul told Patch the emails give them proof that Pirrello and Martin were discussing steps such as who to hire as special prosecutors for an impeachment hearing prior to the filing of a complaint by an Ellisville resident that put the process into motion.

"I have never been so upset and disgusted in my life. There is so much more that will be addressed, and I look forward to truth being revealed regarding what has transpired in our great city,' said Paul.

(For more on Paul's reaction, see Patch’s previous coverage: Suspended Ellisville Mayor Says Impeachment Was "Orchestrated")

The hearing on the lawsuit is set for 3 p.m. Thursday in Clayton. 


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