Hancock said he has been trying to hire his stepdaughter as a parliamentary assistant, a position that pays about $53,000 a year. She started last week, he said, but her hiring paperwork has not yet gone through.

He said he was unaware that the Missouri Constitution prohibits elected officials from hiring relatives.

“They’re trying to remove me from the council,” said Hancock, a Republican from Fenton. “The county council called me yesterday and told me I violated the rules and I have to give up my seat.”

Hancock said he expects to be served with an order from a judge today. The order would prevent him from attending Tuesday’s council meeting, which begins at 3 p.m., he said.

Hancock said he had been told by the county council that he, too, would be removed from office.

County Councilwoman Dana Redwing and spokesmen for District Attorney Wesley Bell and the district courts declined to comment.

After Hancock heard from the county council, his stepdaughter decided not to take the job and agreed not to be paid for the previous week’s work. The council wanted to hire his stepdaughter because they trusted her, she was qualified and was looking for a job.

But he “does not typically study the state constitution paragraph by paragraph.”

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse, but in this case that is exactly what happened,” Hancock said.

Hancock is seeking legal advice, he said.

“I will certainly not stand idly by and accept this,” Hancock said.

Article 7, Section 6 of the Missouri Constitution prohibits elected officials from hiring relatives.