St. Louis Circuit Prosecutor Gardner wins primary, after high-profile McCloskey, Greitens cases

St. Louis Circuit Prosecutor Kim Gardner on Tuesday won her Democratic primary, weeks after filing criminal charges against the Mark and Patricia McCloskey for the armed defense of their home against social justice protesters who entered their private community without permission. 

Gardner charged the married couple with "flourishing" a weapon in connection the June 28 incident, captured on a viral video.

Gardner defeated Mary Pat Carl, a former St. Louis prosecutor, who resigned when Gardner was elected in 2016.

Gardiner has had several controversies since she assumed office.

In January 2017, she opened a criminal investigation into the then-Missouri GOP Gov. Eric Greitens.

Several months later, she was forced to drop the charges for lack of evidence.

In the aftermath, the out-of-state former FBI agent she hired to conduct the Greitens probe has been indicted on seven felony counts counts in connection with perjury and evidence tampering.