PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE — READ IT HERE FIRST
PubDef.net has learned that State Senator Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis) was issued a summons last night after trying to entering the Isle of Capri Casino in Booneville using someone else’s identification player’s card.
According to a sources at the Missouri Gaming Commission, at 11:45 p.m. last night, Smith was cited for presenting false identification to enter a gambling boat, a Class B misdemeanor.
Developing…
UPDATE: Smith tells PubDef that he and a group of state legislators had taken a guided tour of the casino that evening, learning about the economic impact on the City of Booneville. After the tour, the group decided to head back into the casino for a little recreation when Smith, who had hitched a ride, realized he left his drivers license in Jefferson City.
Smith said an Isle of Capri employee gave him someone else’s player card to allow him to enter the casino. Soon after, a gaming officer tapped Smith on the shoulder and asked him to follow him. The officer ticketed Smith and escorted him from the casino.
“It was a case of lapse in judgement,” Smith told PubDef. “It won’t happen again.”
The St. Louis senator says he plans to pay his fine and never leave home without his ID again.
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August 1st, 2007 at 5:17 pm
That was dumb.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I wonder whose money Smith was gambling with if his money was in his wallet with the ID back at home.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:49 pm
If he was with a group of legislators…taxpayer money.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I am surprised they didn’t confuse Jeff for someones son and ask if he is 21.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Bad judgment yes, but really minor infraction. I believe the summons is actually less serious than a run of the mill speeding ticket and really meant to discourage underage gambling, not keeping adults out of a casino.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Jack @##, sellout… stealth republican. The stars are obviously not lined up in his favor. It must be because he again sold out the Democratic caucus. SELLOUT.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Jeff should stop playing games and resolve his congressional finance report mess still lingering on.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:11 pm
don’t let him off the hook go after him like you all do everyone else.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Ooops but harmless especially if an employee said it was ok. At least Smith owned up to it.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:34 pm
We have not confirmed this yet, but a source close to the situation tells PubDef that the employee has been fired.
We will try to confirm this information in the morning.
Stay tuned…
August 1st, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Endorsing Koster should be a Felony.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Post says he was playing no limit texas holdem poker. Uhm? Left town without ID but has enough cash or ATM card to play no limit on a legislator’s salary?
August 1st, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Really dumb move on several levels but I am watching pictures of the bridge collapse on CNN right now and it puts it all in perspective. Wonder how safe our bridges are? Makes you feel better about replacing highway 40.
August 1st, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Actually, in the Booneville Casino, it’s not “no limit” Texas Holdem. There are limits in place. Plus, do you really believe that the legislator’s salary is the only one he draws? I’m a republican, but this is a minor infraction when there’s bigger fish to fry. We’ve all had slips of judgement.
August 1st, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Apparently he has too many slips of judgment. Let’s see……… holding out until he got begged by Pro-Vote and others not to support Donyale Whitmore Smith to the State Board of Education; licking up to Derio Gambaro to now go on the State Board of Education after Gambaro called him a _ _ _ (rhymes with rag) in public; pushing charter schools for Francis Slay, and working more with the Republicans than his own party.
With Koster being wooed by Smith to the democratic caucus, now he’ll have a comrade to plot with. Using someone else’s ID was more than dumb - it’ business as usual for Smith.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Agree too many slips in judgement. If this were Hubbard then the bloggers would nail him. How is is it that Jeff is off the hook. Employee fired. Sounds like things are one sided
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:26 am
If this happened to ANY black politican the bloggers would nail them. White boys always get a pass. And, if this was a black woman, the St. Louis American would be dogging them out. Suggs hates women.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:21 am
Jeff has plenty of people watching him. Some he knows and others he does not.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:08 am
BFD!
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Player’s Cards at Missouri Casino’s serves two purposes: to ensure the player is over 21 AND to track loss limits that the state has set for gambling. Jeff Smith’s “minor” infraction was really not quite as minor as you all are making it out to be.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:04 pm
He is being a bad example to students. He sits on the board of Confluence schools.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Lizz Brown was right again. I just have to keep saying it, cause its true. She was right about Chris King and she is right about Jeff Smith. Good call Lizz.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:43 pm
I’m white, and I don’t consider it some small infraction or lapse in jugment. It was straight and clear dishonesty on his part.
And who ever goes out without identification on him or her?
Now, is the critical black on this blog happy? Most of us judge based on issues not color. Get over it.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Smith should resign immediately or face a recall election. If I lived in his district, I would stand on the corner and solicit signatures for a recall petition. Shame on Smith!
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:11 am
oh give me a break. Who on this blogger has not done something stupid in their life. As a matter of fact, who has not done several things stupid in thier lives. He didn’t harm anyone. He came clean about it. He didn’t use Missouri money. You people can be so shallow and judgemental. Yet, how many of you have your lives open for all to see. Most of you don’t even want to sign your name to your comments about what should happen to someone else. I am not crazy about Jeff Smith, but life is too short to spend my time pointing finger over small stuff.
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:48 am
Smith’s excuse — someone told me I should do it — is worse than the offense (which is very serious). That is shear cowardice. He didn’t own up to anything. Where is the credibility? Gone. This is not the last you’ll hear about “lapses” in Smith’s judgment.
August 4th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Mitt, ofcourse he owned up to it. Even he’s not so stupid to think he can lie himself out of an event like this that had witnesses, a summons, videotape and law enforcement involved. Stop acting like he did a great thing - he got caught in the act and couldn’t lie himself out this time.