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Governor Nixon: Europe Won't Block Missouri Executions

Governor Jay Nixon said Missouri will be moving forward with two executions later this year, in spite of objections from the American Civil Liberties Union and the European Union.

The executions could have a very real impact on hospitals throughout the United States, as the European Union considers possible export limits of the drug as part of its anti-capital punishment policies. Mostpropofolcomes from Europe, whereonly wants it used for medical purposes.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Nixon said death penalty policy should be decided by the courts, and not the EU.

“We are very cognizant of the attention this is drawing and the potential challenges that are out there," Nixon said. "But we are resolute that the issue should be one that is played out by a court of law so that the consistency of this can be maintained.”

"We're going to continue to monitor it very closely. At this point, there's no stay in effect," Nixon said.

In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri is suing the state department of corrections for failing to disclose information about how it obtained the potential execution drug.

The lawsuit alleges that the corrections department violated  the state's public records act by failing to turn over documents related to propofol.

The Missouri Department of Corrections plans to use the drug in an execution later this month. Missouri ACLU executive director JeffreyMittmansays that raises the question: how did the state get it?

“If the drugs were obtained improperly, that's certainly something we would need to know," Mittman said. "Does that lead to a legal action? Does that lead to certain rights or obligations? We need to have that information so we can proceed."

The Missouri Department of Corrections did not respond to requests for comment.

Follow Véronique LaCapra on Twitter:  @KWMUScience

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Veronique is a science & technology reporter for KWMU in St. Louis.
Véronique LaCapra
Science reporter Véronique LaCapra first caught the radio bug writing commentaries for NPR affiliate WAMU in Washington, D.C. After producing her first audio documentaries at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies in N.C., she was hooked! She has done ecological research in the Brazilian Pantanal; regulated pesticides for the Environmental Protection Agency in Arlington, Va.; been a freelance writer and volunteer in South Africa; and contributed radio features to the Voice of America in Washington, D.C. She earned a Ph.D. in ecosystem ecology from the University of California in Santa Barbara, and a B.A. in environmental policy and biology from Cornell. LaCapra grew up in Cambridge, Mass., and in her mother’s home town of Auxerre, France. LeCapra reported for St. Louis Public Radio from 2010 to 2016.
Chris McDaniel
Chris McDaniel started at St. Louis Public Radio as a political reporter, predominantly covering the race between Senator Claire McCaskill and Congressman Todd Akin. Before coming to St. Louis, Chris worked at NPR stations in Louisville, Kentucky and Columbia, Missouri, and his work has been broadcast on NPR’s national newscasts. He is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri, where he studied journalism and political science. He is also the winner of the 2011 PAX East Super Smash Bros. Tournament. Chris enjoys dogs, anything by Cormac McCarthy, and listeners like you.
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