Steve Roberts (Missouri politician)

Steven Craig Roberts, II was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Eva Frazer, a medical doctor, and Steven Craig Roberts, Sr., a former St. Louis alderman.{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.mo.gov/mem05/ |title= Missouri Senate: Senator Steven Roberts |publisher= Missouri Senate |access-date= February 15, 2022}}

Roberts graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communication Studies and received his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. In law school, Roberts worked in the U.S. Congress as a legislative intern; as a certified law clerk with the District Attorney’s Office in Compton, California; and assisted the Counsel to Secure Justice in New Delhi, India. During his final semester, Roberts worked with a clinic in Los Angeles, California that assisted with refugees fleeing persecution obtain asylum in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://law.pepperdine.edu/surf-report/posts/50-for-50-spotlight-steven-roberts.htm|title = 50 for 50 Spotlight: Steven Roberts (JD '13) - Surf Report | Pepperdine School of Law}}

After completing law school, Roberts joined AP Wireless Infrastructure Partners, LLC.{{cite web |url= https://themissouritimes.com/state-representative-steve-roberts-commissioned-as-officer-in-the-u-s-air-force/ |title= State Representative Steve Roberts Commissioned as Officer in the U.S. Air Force |publisher= The Missouri Times |date= October 3, 2019 |access-date= February 15, 2022}}

Roberts joined the Missouri Air National Guard in 2018. After completing the Total Force Officer Training at Maxwell Air Force Base, Roberts was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force; dually serving as both a member of the Missouri Air National Guard as well as a member of the United States Air Force.{{Cite web|date=2019-10-03|title=State Representative Steve Roberts Commissioned as Officer in the U.S. Air Force|url=https://themissouritimes.com/state-representative-steve-roberts-commissioned-as-officer-in-the-u-s-air-force/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=The Missouri Times|language=en}}

Roberts was promoted to the rank of Captain after graduating from the United States Air Force’s Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course (JASOC) in 2021.

Roberts served as a St. Louis assistant circuit attorney when he was arrested for sexual assault in April 2015. Roberts was suspended by the Circuit Attorney’s Office and the Circuit Attorney’s Office launched an independent investigation into Roberts. Jillian S. Anderson, an assistant prosecuting attorney in St. Charles County, served as the outside investigator.{{Cite web|last=Byers|first=Robert Patrick, Christine|title=St. Louis assistant circuit attorney won't be prosecuted|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-assistant-circuit-attorney-wont-be-prosecuted/article_559e06d0-da9a-5113-bf85-925811face36.html|access-date=2022-02-06|website=STLtoday.com|language=en}} Following Anderson's investigation, the office deferred prosecution of Roberts and ended his suspension.

In October of 2015, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce fired Roberts. While Roberts' spokesperson claimed the office did not provide a reason for firing him, Circuit Attorney Joyce stated, “we can say conclusively that his termination was a result of his poor performance. No other factors were involved.”{{Cite web|last=Patrick|first=Robert|title=St. Louis circuit attorney fires prosecutor running to replace her|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-circuit-attorney-fires-prosecutor-running-to-replace-her/article_237b7adc-4af1-5f58-88a8-dcad31556a18.html|access-date=2022-02-06|website=STLtoday.com|language=en}}

Joyce also further elaborated that Roberts was “provided written notice of his performance issues and he has met dozens of times with his supervisors who worked diligently to help him succeed at the office. The Circuit Attorney’s Office has been more than fair with Mr. Roberts, including allowing him to return to the office after no charges were filed following his recent arrest.”{{Cite web|last=Patrick|first=Robert|title=St. Louis circuit attorney fires prosecutor running to replace her|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-circuit-attorney-fires-prosecutor-running-to-replace-her/article_237b7adc-4af1-5f58-88a8-dcad31556a18.html|access-date=2022-02-06|website=STLtoday.com|language=en}} Roberts maintains he was asked to resign after he began collecting campaign money to run for Circuit Attorney.{{cite web|last=Byers |first=Christine |title=Missouri Congressional candidate releases terms of settlement with woman who accused him of rape |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/investigations/steve-robers-terms-settlement-accused-him-of-rape-cora-faith-walker-st-louis-stl-politics-house-representative/63-61238152-e156-49df-bcd8-593cb30f7f39 |access-date= May 15, 2022 |website=kdsk.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Patrick |first=Robert |title=St. Louis circuit attorney fires prosecutor running to replace her |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/st-louis-circuit-attorney-fires-prosecutor-running-to-replace-her/article_237b7adc-4af1-5f58-88a8-dcad31556a18.html |access-date=May 15, 2022 |website=STLtoday.com |language=en}}

Roberts defeated three opponents during the 2016 Missouri House of Representatives District 77 Democratic primary and served 2 two-year terms. He ran unopposed in the General Election. Incumbent Roberts then defeated Kimberly-Ann Collins in his second Democratic primary on August 7, 2018, and won the General Election on November 6, 2018.{{Cite web|title=Steve Roberts (Missouri state legislator)|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Roberts_(Missouri_state_legislator)|access-date=2022-02-14|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}} While in the House, he was selected by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.

In 2020, Roberts successfully ran for the Missouri Senate’s 5th District. Roberts' election on January 6, 2021, made him the youngest black State Senator in Missouri history.{{Cite web|last=Schallhorn|first=Kaitlyn|date=2021-01-04|title=Steven Roberts makes Missouri Senate history while focused on responsibility|url=https://themissouritimes.com/steven-roberts-makes-missouri-senate-history-while-focused-on-responsibility/|access-date=2022-02-06|website=The Missouri Times|language=en}} In November 2024, he was selected as assistant minority floor leader.{{Cite web |last=Hancock |first=Jason |date=November 8, 2024 |title=In aftermath of Missouri election, both parties pick legislative leaders |url=https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/in-aftermath-of-missouri-election-both-parties-pick-legislative-leaders/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}

In February 2023, Roberts co-filed legislation with Brian Williams to compensate the wrongly accused and exonerated.{{Cite web |last=Hancock |first=Jason |date=2023-02-20 |title=Missouri legislators seek to expand law providing restitution for wrongful convictions • Missouri Independent |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/missouri-legislators-seek-to-expand-law-providing-restitution-for-wrongful-convictions/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Roberts blocked four Mike Parson nominations from his district to state boards, alleging a lack of communication from the governor's office. Parson's press secretary told press that there had been communication, and that Roberts had advocated for positions for himself and his father.{{Cite web |last=Pittman |first=Ezra Bitterman and Aidan |date=2024-05-01 |title=Governor's office says Sen. Steve Roberts blocked nominations |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/governors-office-says-sen-steve-roberts-blocked-nominations/article_8aac63fa-07e0-11ef-953b-6b46f0d00963.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Columbia Missourian |language=en}} All four nominees, including Lyda Krewson, were appointed later in the year.{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2024 |title=Governor Parson Announces 19 Appointments to Various Boards and Commissions, Fills Two County Office Vacancies |url=https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-parson-announces-19-appointments-various-boards-and-commissions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082429/https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-parson-announces-19-appointments-various-boards-and-commissions |archive-date=September 20, 2024 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Governor Michael L. Parson}}

In March 2025, Roberts negotiated provisions in a bill to re-institute state control of the St. Louis Police and attempted to filibuster the bill with colleague Karla May.{{Cite web |last=Hancock |first=Jason |date=2025-03-10 |title=Missouri on the verge of taking over St. Louis police, a return to Civil War-era policy |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/10/missouri-on-the-verge-of-taking-over-st-louis-police-a-return-to-civil-war-era-policy/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}

In April 2025, Roberts was the only member of either House or Senate to vote against a bill to void non-disclosure agreements in child sexual abuse cases.{{Cite web |last=Bates |first=Clara |date=2025-04-22 |title=Missouri bill to void NDAs in child sex abuse cases approved by House |url=https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/22/missouri-bill-to-void-ndas-in-child-sex-abuse-cases-approved-by-house/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}

Roberts ran for U.S. Congress in Missouri's 1st congressional district, running against incumbent Congresswoman Cori Bush, in which he garnered 26.6% of the vote in the Democratic primary.{{Cite web |title=Missouri House District 1 Democratic Primary Election Results and Maps 2022 {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2022/results/missouri/democratic-primaries/us-house-district-1 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=CNN |language=en}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri's 77th State House of Representatives District, Democratic Primary Election, August 2, 2016}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Roberts

|votes = 1,900

|percentage = 39.57%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = John Collins-Muhammad

|votes = 1,280

|percentage = 26.66%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jesse Todd

|votes = 966

|percentage = 20.12%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Brian Elsesser

|votes = 656

|percentage = 13.66%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 4,802

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri's 77th State House of Representatives District, General Election, November 8, 2016}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Roberts

|votes = 12,142

|percentage = 100%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 12,142

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri's 77th State House of Representatives District, Democratic Primary Election, August 7, 2018}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Roberts

|votes = 3,212

|percentage = 53.01%

|change = +13.44

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Kimberly-Ann Collins

|votes = 2,847

|percentage = 46.99%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 6,059

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri's 77th State House of Representatives District, General Election, November 6, 2018}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Roberts

|votes = 10,834

|percentage = 100%

|change = 0

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 10,834

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri's 5th State Senate District, Democratic Primary, August 4, 2020{{cite web |url= https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Roberts_(Missouri_state_legislator) |title= Steve Roberts (Missouri state legislator) |publisher= Ballotpedia |access-date= February 15, 2022}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Roberts

|votes = 12,293

|percentage = 35.43%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Megan Ellyia Green

|votes = 11,241

|percentage = 32.40%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Michelle Sherod

|votes = 7,817

|percentage = 22.53%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = William C. (Bill) Haas

|votes = 2,068

|percentage = 5.96%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jeremiah Church

|votes = 893

|percentage = 2.57%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = McFarlane Duncan

|votes = 387

|percentage = 1.11%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 34,699

|percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Missouri's 5th State Senate District, General Election, November 3, 2020}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Steve Roberts|votes=56,379|percentage=87.10%|change=}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Michael Hebron|votes=8,349|percentage=12.90%|change=}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 64,728

|percentage = 100

}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2022{{Cite web |url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/PrimaryElectionAugust2_2022.pdf |title=State of Missouri – Primary Election, August 02, 2022 |publisher=Missouri Secretary of State |access-date=August 7, 2024}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Cori Bush (incumbent)|votes=65,326|percentage=69.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Steve Roberts|votes=25,015|percentage=26.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Michael Daniels|votes=1,683|percentage=1.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ron Harshaw|votes=1,065|percentage=1.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Earl Childress|votes=929|percentage=1.0}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=94,018|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box end}}

In April 2015, Roberts was arrested by St. Louis Metropolitan Police on suspicion of second degree sodomy toward Saint Louis University student Amy Harms a week prior.{{Cite news |last=Messenger |first=Tony |date=October 7, 2016 |title=Messenger: Rape allegation inspires previous Roberts accuser to speak up |work=STLtoday.com (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/tony-messenger/messenger-rape-allegation-inspires-previous-roberts-accuser-to-speak-up/article_2715bf9f-968f-5f04-96c3-be7f075258b8.html |access-date=2022-02-06}}{{cite news |last=Wang |first=Amy B |date=2016-10-03 |title=In ‘serious and disturbing’ letter, incoming Missouri lawmaker accuses another of raping her |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/02/in-serious-and-disturbing-letter-incoming-missouri-lawmaker-accuses-another-of-raping-her/ |accessdate=2022-03-13}} In April 2017, the accuser's claim of infliction of emotional distress was dismissed.{{cite news |last=Heffernan |first=Erin |date=2019-12-03 |title=Woman who accused state lawmaker of sexual assault dismisses suit |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-who-accused-state-lawmaker-of-sexual-assault-dismisses-suit/article_ca97418f-9c06-517e-b811-56323cf4b300.html |accessdate=2022-03-22 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203115416/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-who-accused-state-lawmaker-of-sexual-assault-dismisses-suit/article_ca97418f-9c06-517e-b811-56323cf4b300.html |archivedate=2019-12-03}} Roberts settled a civil case arising from the incident for $100,000.{{Cite news |title=Missouri’s Steven Roberts Settled Groping Allegation Suit for $100,000 |work=theintercept.com |url=https://theintercept.com/2022/04/19/missouri-steven-roberts-groping-allegation-settlement/ |access-date=2022-04-19}}

In 2016, incoming State Representative Cora Faith Walker accused Roberts of rape, which Roberts denied and, in response, filed a defamation lawsuit against Walker. In 2019, both Roberts and Walker dropped their respective legal actions, with their lawyers saying: "No money was paid in exchange for the dismissal of the parties' claims."{{Cite news |last=Holleman |first=Joe |title=Missouri state legislators who sued each other over rape claim dismiss lawsuits |work=STLtoday.com |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/joe-holleman/missouri-state-legislators-who-sued-each-other-over-rape-claim/article_027cdd01-312e-5ff6-b9d1-6897ff6e01db.html |access-date=2022-02-06}} The settlement required confidentiality from both parties, a $100,000 fine for each violation, and a statement in Walker's name disputing any claim of assault, which Roberts said the recently deceased Walker violated.{{Cite web |last=Holleman |first=Joe |date=April 19, 2022 |title=Steve Roberts reveals terms of settlement with Cora Faith Walker over rape claim |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/joe-holleman/steve-roberts-reveals-terms-of-settlement-with-cora-faith-walker-over-rape-claim/article_56cc4b36-7a49-5888-a681-7d7fa9467ffa.html |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |language=en}}

In 2022, allegations against Roberts resurfaced when it was found that content was removed from his Wikipedia page, from a Missouri State Capitol IP address.{{Cite web |last=Lacy |first=Akela |last2= |first2= |date=March 21, 2022 |title=Sexual Assault Allegations Vanished From Potential Cori Bush Challenger’s Wikipedia Page |url=https://theintercept.com/2022/03/21/missouri-senator-steven-roberts-wikipedia/ |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=The Intercept |language=en}}

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{{Current Missouri Senators}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Steve}}

Category:1980s births

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party members of the Missouri House of Representatives

Category:Democratic Party Missouri state senators

Category:Politicians from St. Louis

Category:21st-century members of the Missouri General Assembly