This is extremely sad and disappointing.
I think the “black mail” claim, true or not, dooms any future elective plans.
I have to assume the St. Louis TV outlet has more than one source for the claim...
I had an acquaintance that ran a restaurant and bar. He had spent fifteen years as a campaign and chief of staff type guy in Jeff City. He said he finally left because all of the people there were just so stupid. They would agree to a plan or a program to be presented and bang, they were off in the weeds like a dog after a squirrel.