Missouri AG Bailey's lawsuits: challenging legal boundaries

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is leading a series of high-profile lawsuits that test legal boundaries across several areas. He recently filed a suit against Starbucks, alleging its DEI policies harm white men, but critics say he showed no real evidence of discrimination. In another unusual move, Bailey is pursuing legal action against China over alleged personal protective equipment hoarding during the pandemic, even though his own previous statements contradict the case’s argument about mask effectiveness.

Bailey has also sparked debates with suits challenging abortion pill access, opposing censorship of counseling in Kansas City, and efforts to impose strict age verification for online pornography, often pushing the limits of both state and federal law. Each case highlights Bailey’s frequent clashes with local governments, federal agencies, and national corporations, raising questions about how far Missouri’s top lawyer will go to assert his interpretation of the law.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey shakes hands with Honorable Kelly Broniec, Judge of the Missouri Supreme Court, after being sworn in on the steps of the Missouri State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Jefferson City. By Emily Curiel

NO. 1: MISSOURI AG BAILEY’S CHINA LAWSUIT SAYS MASKS SLOWED COVID. HE CLAIMED THEY ‘DIDN’T WORK’

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is taking China to trial over claims it hoarded masks and other gear during the pandemic, harming Missouri. | Published January 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman Kacen Bayless

NO. 2: WHITE MEN IN MISSOURI ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND DUE TO STARBUCKS’ DEI INITIATIVES, AG SAYS | OPINION

Andrew Bailey’s lawsuit claims Starbucks enforces race-and-sex-based hiring practices without providing specific examples. From Toriano Porter: | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Toriano Porter

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has appealed a Jackson County ruling that opened a path for abortions to resume in Missouri.

NO. 3: ANDREW BAILEY: KANSAS CITY, JACKSON COUNTY COUNSELING CENSORSHIP HURTS YOUNG PEOPLE | OPINION

A new guest commentary from Missouri’s attorney general and the senior counsel with the nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom: | Published February 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andrew Bailey

NO. 4: TARIFF TRADE WARS ARE SINKING RETIREMENTS. WILL AGS KOBACH AND BAILEY PROTECT YOU? | OPINION

The market has lost $4 trillion in value since mid-February. The attorneys general have a duty to the people. | Opinion | Published March 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joel Mathis

NO. 5: ANDREW BAILEY’S AGE-BASED ANTI-PORN PLAN ISN’T JUST WRONGHEADED - IT’S FICTION | OPINION

Project 2025 aims to criminalize pornography. The Missouri AG’s proposal to keep it out of kids’ hands is based on technology that doesn’t exist. | Opinion | Published April 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael McGrady Jr.

NO. 6: MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL SUES KANSAS CITY, SAYING CITY IGNORED RECORDS REQUESTS

The lawsuit alleges Mayor Quinton Lucas’ office and the city manager’s office ignored public records requests from the state attorney general. | Published April 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kacen Bayless Jonathan Shorman

NO. 7: WHY IS TRUMP’S DOJ AT ODDS WITH KANSAS AND MISSOURI OVER ABORTION PILL LAWSUIT?

The Department of Justice’s request potentially puts Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey in an uncomfortable position. | Published May 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.