Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican and ally of Donald Trump, has indicted St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, a Democrat, on felony charges. The charges stem from Page's use of taxpayer funds to print and mail flyers about a ballot measure, a common local government practice that experts say has not previously led to criminal charges in Missouri. Bailey, who is set to resign as attorney general to join Trump's administration at the FBI, has a history of targeting Democratic officials. This action is seen by some as a political move to demonstrate loyalty to Trump and replicate his tactics on a state level. Critics argue the charges are exaggerated and politically motivated, suggesting a Republican official in the same situation would not face similar scrutiny. Missouri's political landscape has increasingly favored hard-line conservatives, rewarding candidates who appeal to a narrow, highly engaged primary electorate. Bailey's predecessors, Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, also used their tenures as attorney general to boost their national profiles and advance their political careers. Bailey's actions against Page and other Democratic officials in Missouri's major cities are consistent with a pattern of using the attorney general's office for political advantage. Legal experts express skepticism about the strength of the case against Page, with some calling it a stretch.