By Marshall Griffin, St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – A Cole County judge has postponed a hearing into whether a restraining order should be issued against a Republican candidate for the Missouri Senate.
State Representative Brian Nieves (R, Washington, Mo.) won the GOP nomination this month for the District 26 State Senate seat that covers part of St. Louis County and all of Franklin and Warren counties.
Shawn Bell was a campaign worker for Dick Stratman, one of Nieves' opponents in the August 3rd primary. Bell accuses Nieves of slapping him, pulling out a gun and threatening to kill him during a visit to Nieves' campaign office to congratulate him after the primary.
An attorney for Nieves says the allegations are baseless and without merit.
In 2008, Nieves was involved in an altercation on the floor of the Missouri House with State Representative Trent Skaggs (D, Kansas City). The two got into a heated argument during a debate, during which Skaggs tapped Nieves on the cheek twice with an open hand. Staff members and fellow lawmakers then had to separate the two.
Meanwhile, Bell's request for a protective order against Nieves has been rescheduled for September 2nd.