Jeff Smith

Milton "Skip" Ohlsen Sentenced: Twenty Years in Prison for Clayton Parking Garage Bombing

More than four years after Milton "Skip" Ohlsen bombed a Clayton parking garage in a failed attempt to target his ex-wife's divorce attorney, the 41-year-old suspect has been formally sentenced. Officials announced today that Ohlsen will spend twenty years behind bars, marking an end to a drawn-ou ... More >>

Jeff Smith Reveals Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Prison Sex But Were Afraid to Ask

Of course you wanted to know about it. That's the first thing just about any adult thinks of when they hear about a man going to prison. Even before the image of the bright orange jumpsuit comes to mind. A few weeks ago, disgraced former Missouri politician Jeff Smith, now a professor at The New Sc ... More >>

Jeff Smith, Rod Jetton Recall Glory Days Before Scandals Ruined Their Political Careers

Smith & Jetton: Ex-pols engage in friendly fire.​In 2009, then state Senator Jeff Smith (D - St. Louis) was caught lying to federal investigators and sentenced to twelve months in prison (he served eight). That same year,  Rod Jetton, Missouri's former Republican speaker of the House, fel ... More >>

Photo Shows RFT Reporters on Enemies List of Accused Clayton Bomber, Milton "Skip" Ohlsen

Fox 2The "enemies" list with "Chad Garrison" and "Kristen" in the center, below Post-It notes with the names of Ohlsen's ex-wife, her divorce attorney and others.​On Wednesday, KTVI Fox 2 aired evidence seized from the downtown loft of accused Clayton bomber, Milton "Skip" Ohlsen, that confirms de ... More >>

Milton "Skip" Ohlsen Pleads Not Guilty to Clayton Bombing

Milton "Skip" Ohlsen​The man authorities say set up a bomb that injured a Clayton attorney in 2008 pleaded "not guilty" to the crime today in federal court in St. Louis. Authorities believe Milton "Skip" Ohlsen left the bomb in a Clayton parking garage next to an Acura TL that he believed was owne ... More >>

Milton Ohlsen III: Indicted for 2008 Clayton Parking Garage Bombing

Milton Ohlsen III, a.k.a. "Skip," has finally been charged in the 2008 parking garage bombing that rocked the Clayton legal community.​The man previously identified only as a "person of interest" in the bombing of a Clayton parking garage, Milton "Skip" Ohlsen III, has been indicted on five felony ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Jeff Smith Is No Gandhi

Today's comment of the day comes in response to Aimee Levitt's post about disgraced former pol Jeff Smith writing a book about what he learned in jail. Since Smith wasn't exactly innocent in the scandal that sent him packing, reader "Never Know" had this question:Hey Kids! Which of the following doe ... More >>

Disgraced Ex-Senator Jeff Smith Writing Book About What He Learned in Jail

Jeff Smith, ex-con and man of letters.​There's a long and honorable tradition of books written in prison -- Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, Oscar Wilde's De Profundis, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, possibly the letters of St. Paul. And why not? There's not much else to do there but reflect. ... More >>

Jeff Smith Hits National Stage Yet Again On MSNBC's The Dylan Ratigan Show

Had your fill of former state senator Jeff Smith? Good, 'cause he's everywhere! Since getting released from federal prison last November after fibbing to the FBI about his 2004 congressional campaign, "Mr. Smith" has hit the national stage: The New Republic did a bang-up feature on him (though we th ... More >>

Jeff Smith's Political Downfall Retold in The New Republic

The New Republic​The liberal-leaning magazine The New Republic is out with a loooong article this month on the the political collapse of former state senator Jeff Smith. I haven't had a chance to read the entire story yet, but clicking on the hyperlinks in the article it's clear that the author re ... More >>

Jeff Smith's Latest Prison Tweet: Duke Championship Worsens His Sentence

Sure, the topic of this tweet is a few days old, although the post is from last night. Remember, with former state representative Jeff Smith in prison for obstructing justice, it's not that easy for him to post his musings on Twitter. ​ "Fan us!" Become a fan of the Daily RFT on

Milton "Skip" Ohlsen's New Home: Yazoo City, Mississippi, Federal Correctional Institution

The man behind state senator Jeff Smith's downfall and suspected of playing a role in a 2008 bombing in Clayton, Milton "Skip" Ohlsen was transported to federal prison in Mississippi this week. Ohlsen has been in federal custody in St. Louis County since December 2008 when he was arrested for multip ... More >>

Daily RFT Exclusive: Jeff Smith's Secret Tweets From Prison

Jeff Smith​Have you heard? Disgraced state senator Jeff Smith is tweeting from prison!Yes, even though Smith is not allowed to use Twitter behind bars, the social-media junkie is still able to get his 140-character (or less) pearls to followers. Apparently, it's a pretty involved process, too, req ... More >>

Former Politico Jeff Smith Ships Out to the Federal Pen Today

​Former state senator Jeff Smith begged off from his 1,136 Twitter followers just after midnight, telling them it would be his last tweet for awhile. KMOX says Smith will report to a minimum-security prison in Kansas today, in order to begin the 12-months-and-a-day sentence he picked up for ... More >>

St. Louis: Ten Dumbest Crimes of 2009

Even leaving aside the public servants (Jeff Smith, Steve Brown, T.D. El-Amin) who got caught red-handed this year, 2009 offered a bumper crop of truly stupid crimes.    ​10. Savvy Hillbillies Employ Dogs Eight men from 'round the town of Doniphan allegedly thought they could outsmart ma ... More >>

Who Is Daily RFT's "Ass Clown of the Year"?

​Over the course of the past 12 months, you -- the readers of Daily RFT -- have cast thousands of votes for your favorite "Ass Clowns of the Week".  Now comes an even greater decision. Ladies and gentlemen, who is Daily RFT's "Ass Clown of the Year"???You know, the person whose idiocy and hub ... More >>

Former State Senator Jeff Smith Tells His Side of the Story

Jeff Smith​Jeff Smith sat down yesterday with hosts D.J. Wilson and Fred Hessel of the KDHX news program Collateral Damage. Smith recalled in the interview his reaction when he first learned that his former campaign assistant, State Rep. Steve Brown had tape-recorded their conversations: "Kind of ... More >>

The Popular Click: Daily RFT's Biggest Posts of 2009

This is a medium-sized post, so it wouldn't make the cut.​We began 2009 with a new name for this blog (it used to go by "Stlog" if you remember) and yada-yada-yada now we are in December, looking back on, oh about 2,391 posts. Here -- in no specific order -- are the ten most popular posts of '09. ... More >>

Last Jeff Smith Post: The Letters

One supporter of Jeff Smith compared him to a Kennedy.​Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, Build-A-Bear CEO Maxine Clark and an ex-girlfriend are among the hundreds of people who wrote to a federal judge asking for leniency in the sentencing for former state senator Jeff Smith. The letters, along with some ... More >>

WTF Was Jeff Smith Thinking Last Summer? STL Beacon Reveals All

​In an interview with the St. Louis Beacon, conducted via text message (oh, brave new world!), disgraced former state senator Jeff Smith shares his perspective on the revelations of last summer which led to his sentencing earlier this week to a year in federal prison for obstruction of justice. Am ... More >>

Steve Brown's Decision to Wear the Wire "Came Without Hesitation"

Steve Brown was sentenced to two years' probation and a $40,000 fine. Jeff Smith got a year in prison and must pay a $50,000 fine. ​In a letter to U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson, former state rep. Steve Brown's wife, Rebecca Brown, stated she is "deeply disappointed" by her husband's illegal ac ... More >>

Is Disgraced State Senator Jeff Smith Now Trying to Say He's the Hero in This Debacle?

Is it just Daily RFT, or does it sound like Jeff Smith is flipping the ol' bird to the people who put him behind bars?​St. Louis Post-Dispatch political columnist Tony Messenger has a nice scene-scetter of the Jeff Smith sentencing in this morning's paper. But is anyone besides Daily RFT stum ... More >>

The Dead Guy in Smith Case Speaks. Sort Of.

At yesterday's federal sentencing of Jeff Smith, U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson noted her receipt of numerous letters asking for leniency for the former state senator. Jackson said she never counted the missives, but estimated that they well could have totaled 100. Jackson also referenced a lone ... More >>

Former Senator Jeff Smith Will Likely Go to the Marion, Illinois, Clinker

Jeff Smith remains free on bond -- until he gets the letter from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons telling him where and when to report. ​Susan Uchitelle wanted Jeff Smith to do more community service at Confluence Academy. Vince Estrada wanted the former poli-sci instructor for Washington University to ... More >>

State Supreme Court Moves to Suspend Law License of Disgraced State Rep. Steve Brown

The state's highest court today began formal disciplinary proceedings against former state representative Steve Brown. Brown, 42, stands to have his law license suspended following his guilty plea to a federal conspiracy charge.www.brownformissouri.comBrown may never campaign again - for himself or ... More >>

Last Week's Most-Read Posts, August 24-30, 2009

The scandal involving former Missouri State Senator Jeff Smith kept readers' attention all last week. Here's a rundown of the most-clicked-on headlines, August 24-30, here at the Daily RFT.America F*** Yeah: Chesterfield Hummer Dealership Also Sells Assault Rifles  The Postcards That Brought Do ... More >>

Ass Clown of the Week: Skip Ohlsen

Skip Ohlsen​The people (or person) have spoken and Milton "Skip" Ohlsen has won Daily RFT's Ass Clown of the Week. Ohlsen took an unprecedented 97 percent of the vote -- which may have been compromised by the action of one or two voters who cast thousands of ballots in favor of Ohlsen. Ohlsen's ch ... More >>

Jeff Smith Campaign Documentary Makes for An Interesting Post-Mortem, Particularly in the Case of the Dead Campaign Worker Caught Up in Smith's Crime

​Somebody told Daily RFT there was a striking moment in Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? when an independent campaign consultant talked about what a nice, smart, capable guy Jeff Smith is -- but that to win in politics the then-29-year-old needed to get more cutthroat. We couldn't find sai ... More >>

Crack-Dealing Coaches, Lying Politicians, Suspected Bombers and a Hummer Dealer: What Do They All Have in Common?

​The Ass Clowns seem to be crawling out of the woodwork this week, especially following Jeff Smith's guilty plea and resignation. Outside the political arena, there were also a few worthy candidates. So you know the rules: Vote for the following headline-maker whose actions or deeds this week you ... More >>

RFT readers show no mercy for weak-kneed liberals, Gary Kaplan or Milton "Skip" Ohlsen

Jeff Smith's Resignation Letter

Note: Below is the unedited letter Jeff Smith sent out to supporters following his guilty pleas Tuesday to two charges of obstructing a federal investigation. ​Dear Friend, Today, with great sadness and regret, I am resigning from the Missouri Senate. ... More >>

Twenty-two Page Criminal Case Against Jeff Smith and Posse is Engaging Read

Nope. But he can go to prison.​I could attempt to reconstruct the federal complaint filed against Missouri state Senator Jeff Smith and cohorts (state Rep. Steve Brown and campaign worker Nick Adams) for lying to federal authorities during an investigation into campaign violations. Or I could just ... More >>

RFT Reporters Make Milton "Skip" Ohlsen's Shit List, Court Records Show

Milton H. "Skip" Ohlsen​Milton H. "Skip" Ohlsen is in federal custody awaiting sentencing on weapons and bank fraud charges. As has been reported in recent days, Ohlsen is also a person of interest in the bombing that hurt attorney John Gillis last year. No charges have been filed in that case. So ... More >>

A Post That Isn't About Jeff Smith or Skip Ohlsen

For awhile it seemed Daily RFT was destined to set a Joe Dimaggio-like record for consecutive posts on the same topic (even though everyone knows 56 in a row is unattainable in this day and age) but here's a little morning levity, courtesy of Fail blog, to lighten up all the recent talk of shady pol ... More >>

Jeff Smith and Wal-Mart: A Love-Hate Sorta Thing

​Okay, okay. My last post today on Jeff Smith. I swear! But I just had to share this amusing nugget. As I reported this morning, one of the many subplots in the criminal case assembled against the former state senator and members of his 2004 congressional campaign was their use of throw-away cellp ... More >>

Sen. Jeff Smith, Rep. Steve Brown and Campaign Cohort Scheduled to Appear in U.S. District Court This Afternoon

State Sen. Jeff Smith, State Rep. Steve Brown and Nick Adams, the treasurer for Smith's failed 2004 Congressional campaign, are slated to appear before a federal judge this afternoon in a criminal case involving federal election violations. Smith, Brown and Adams are all expected to waive indictment ... More >>

Jeff Smith Resigns Missouri Senate, Pleads Guilty to Two Felonies

Jeff Smith​Jeff Smith pleaded guilty today to two counts of obstructing justice. The first stems from an initial investigation into his failed 2004 campaign for U.S. Congress. The second charge comes from a follow-up investigation into his 2004 campaign conducted this year. According to a breaking ... More >>

Former State Senator Jeff Smith Facing 20 Years in Prison, Maybe More

​A little over a month ago, Jeff Smith was still considered a rising star in Missouri Democratic politics. Now his political career is more than likely over. Smith admitted in federal court today that he tried to cover up his involvement in a federal elections violation not once -- but twice. Smit ... More >>

The Postcards That Brought Down a Senator

Here are a few images of the postcards Jeff Smith's congressional campaign mailed out back in 2004 to some 25,000 constituent attacking fellow candidate Russ Carnahan. Convicted felon, Democratic Party strategist, and suspected bomber Milton "Skip" Ohlsen allegedly assisted Smith in the mailings, wh ... More >>

What the Post-Dispatch Missed About Milton "Skip" Ohlsen

Ohlsen's mug shot as it appears in an arrest report from March 2008 when police in Ladue found him in possession of a stolen .40 caliber Glock handgun. ​If you didn't see it yesterday, the Post-Dispatch ran a front-page article on Milton "Skip" Ohlsen, the man behind a federal probe into state Sen ... More >>

Ohlsen's Former Wife Testified that He Was Behind "Voters for Truth", Used Multiple Aliases

Jeff Smith​The former wife of Milton "Skip" Ohlsen testified last year that her ex-husband operated Voters for Truth, the political committee at the center of a federal probe into state Senator Jeff Smith (D - St. Louis) and state Rep. Steve Brown (D - Clayton).  Smith and Brown are reportedl ... More >>

Latest in the WTF is Up with Sen. Jeff Smith: Milton "Skip" Ohlsen Is Not the One Talking, Per His Attorney

Sen. Jeff Smith has politicos and pundits speculating.​The mystery of Missouri state Senator Jeff Smith's reportedly imminent resignation from office continues. But Paul D'Agrosa, criminal defense attorney for Milton "Skip" Ohlsen says the chatter about his client ratting out Smith for federal cam ... More >>

State Senator Jeff Smith Rumored To Be Stepping Down

Local politicos are a-wag over rumors that Sen. Jeff Smith, who represents part of St. Louis in the Missouri General Assembly, will soon announce he's stepping down because of legal problems.Daily RFT reached out to Smith this morning but hasn't yet gotten his response. More next week.​

What Did St. Louis Twitter About Last Night?

Just some of the hot Twitter action you might have missed last night, Monday June 1:Alyson Carter AKA Shanghai Lily of the Arch Rival Roller Girls.Robin Wheeler Mama likes to knit, listen to loud music, cook, write, cuss & refer to herself in third person.

Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968

It's only fitting that tomorrow's inauguration of the nation's first African-American president comes a day after we celebrate the life of a man who gave his life fighting for racial equality. Today St. Louisans will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a number of ways ... More >>

Missouri Representin'!

Grass-roots politician Jeff Smith hits the silver screen

The Absurd Third

Last-minute campaign shenanigans mark the final days in the race to replace Dick

If You Wanna Run Cool

Municipal codes keep fortunetellers, prophets and paupers out of St. Louis, Jeff Smith's campaign violates the time-space continuum, and Bill Haas fights back; plus, if the conversion van's rockin', don't come knockin'.

Top Secret!

Key Sunday Cinema Club arrives

Piano Men

Key-ticklers at the Drake Bar and the Big Bang reinvigorate the old piano-bar concept