Today, I am not just speaking as an elected official. I am speaking as a father, a son, and a member of a family that is hurting. Nine months after taking office to serve the community I love, my life changed in ways I never imagined. I was charged first with a misdemeanor, then with felony charges. In a country that promises we are innocent until proven guilty, I was led into court in shackles—separated from my dignity before I ever had the chance to defend my name. But the hardest part of this journey has not been the headlines or the courtroom. It has been the distance from my family. I am currently being held 100 miles away from St. Louis. That means missed dinners, missed conversations, and missed moments that fathers are supposed to have with their children. It means my loved ones carry emotional and financial burdens they never asked for. My family did not run for office. They did not ask for this fight. Yet they wake up every day carrying its weight. We were raised on simple principles: Family stands together. Truth matters. Faith carries you through the storm. Those principles are what keep me strong right now. I am fighting for my freedom. I am fighting for my right to serve. But more than anything, I am fighting to go home—to hug my family, to reassure my children, and to restore stability to the people who have always stood by me. This is a difficult season for us. Legal battles are expensive. Being held so far away creates additional strain. I humbly ask for your support—not out of pride, but out of necessity—to help cover legal expenses and to ensure my family is supported while I defend myself. Your prayers, your encouragement, and your support mean more than I can express. No matter the outcome, I believe truth will prevail. I believe justice will be served. And I believe family—when held together by faith and love—can endure even the hardest trials. Thank you for standing with us during this.