JEFFERSON CITY — A former federal prosecutor presently serving as a prime lawyer on the congressional panel probing the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol is being urged to run for Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat as an impartial.
On Monday, a committee headed by former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth launched a web site to encourage John F. Wooden to run as another choice for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt.
The following step is for the group to file with the Federal Election Fee so as to start elevating cash. As a candidate not affiliated with a celebration, Wooden additionally must accumulate signatures to get on the November poll.
Danforth is pushing for an impartial candidate so as to “present Missouri voters a principled, conventional conservative alternative for the US Senate this yr.”
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Previous to turning into a lawyer, Wooden, 52, labored on Danforth’s employees. He additionally clerked for U.S. Supreme Court docket Justice Clarence Thomas and on the U.S. Court docket of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for Choose J. Michael Luttig, who lately testified earlier than the Jan. 6 fee.
“Revered leaders throughout the state of Missouri have made it clear that Missouri voters deserve another choice to the main contenders for the Republican and Democratic nominations for U.S. Senate,” a information launch notes in regards to the committee’s formation. “We’re encouraging John to reply that decision, as he has executed numerous occasions over the course of his profession in authorities.”
In February, Danforth, 85, predicted a center-right impartial candidate would file to run for U.S. Senate in Missouri.
He based mostly his prediction on the outcomes of a ballot suggesting an impartial candidate — one who promotes a message of unity as a substitute of division — would have a robust probability of profitable the overall election.
Danforth, a Ladue Republican who represented Missouri within the U.S. Senate from 1976 to 1995, predicted an impartial candidate wouldn’t get misplaced within the combine, as others have in previous elections. He additionally mentioned he could be focused on financially supporting the best particular person’s bid.
The formation of the marketing campaign committee got here on a day when the main target of the Senate race was a video launched by former Gov. Eric Greitens displaying him and a group of troopers violently coming into a home seeking what Greitens calls “Republicans in identify solely,” or RINOs.
The video drew heavy criticism from others within the race on each side of the aisle and was taken down by Fb and flagged by Twitter.
Together with Greitens, different Republicans within the race embody U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Lengthy; Lawyer Basic Eric Schmitt; Senate President Professional Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan; and St. Louis lawyer Mark McCloskey.
Democrats embody Marine veteran Lucas Kunce, the highest fundraiser who describes himself as a populist, and political novice Trudy Busch Valentine, an inheritor to the Busch beer household. Spencer Toder, Jewel Kelly, Tim Shepard and Gena Ross are additionally operating.
In a information launch, Wooden is described as a sixth-generation Missourian who was U.S. lawyer for the Western District of Missouri from 2007 to 2009 underneath former President George W. Bush.
He took over after his cousin, then-U.S. Sen. Christopher “Equipment” Bond, allegedly helped drive out then-U.S. Lawyer Todd Graves from the job in 2005. Graves, a former Missouri Republican Get together chairman and ardent supporter of Greitens throughout his abbreviated, scandal-plagued tenure, is the brother of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio.
Wooden beforehand served as chief of employees to George W. Bush-era Homeland Safety Secretary Michael Chertoff, deputy affiliate basic counsel to Lawyer Basic John Ashcroft and within the White Home underneath Bush on the Workplace of Administration and Finances.
“John has exemplified the precept of placing ‘nation over celebration’ via his central position investigating the assault on the US Capitol for the Home Choose Committee,” the information launch notes. “Over the approaching days, we’ll work to draft John Wooden into this race to supply Missourians that alternative they deserve.”
Wooden was dropped at the Jan. 6 committee by the Republican co-chair, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. A lifelong Republican, Wooden stories to Cheney and likewise the committee’s chief counsel, Tim Heaphy, a Democrat who can be a former U.S. lawyer.
In a joint assertion about his hiring, Democrat Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson of Tennessee and Cheney mentioned Wooden’s addition underscores the character of the panel.
“Mr. Wooden has a formidable observe file working inside and outdoors of presidency, and his experience will improve our efforts to research the occasions surrounding January sixth and perceive what led to the assault in opposition to the U.S. Capitol that day,” they wrote.
Earlier than becoming a member of the committee, Wooden most lately labored as basic counsel for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Wooden couldn’t be reached for remark.