Background
Diehl, Junior, John Jay was born on August 28, 1965 in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States.
Diehl, Junior, John Jay was born on August 28, 1965 in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States.
University of Missouri (Bachelor of Arts, 1987). Saint Louis University (Juris Doctor, 1991).
He represented the 89th district, which includes Ballwin, Chesterfield, Country Life Acres, Crystal Lake Park, Des Peres, Frontenac, Huntleigh, Kirkwood, Ladue, Manchester, and Town and Country, from 2009 to 2015. Prior to redistricting he represented the 87th district from 2009-2012. Diehl was elected Speaker of the House in 2013 and took office in January 2015.
Diehl resigned on May 14, 2015 after a scandal came to light regarding inappropriate messages exchanged with an international
He received a law degree from Saint Louis University in 1991. Diehl is married, has three sons, and attends Our Lady of the Pillar parish in Creve Coeur.
Diehl was named Town and Country and Frontenac Chamber of Commerce"s 2006 businessman of the year and was on the Town and Country and Frontenac Chamber of Commerce executive committee from 2004-2007. He was in that position from 2003–2005 and he served as president of the board from 2004-2005.
In 2008, he was elected to serve in the Missouri House of Representatives.
He was chairman of the powerful Rules Committee and Special Standing Committee on Redistricting and served as House Majority Floor Leader in 2013. In September 2013, Republican Diehl was elected Speaker-Designee, and became the Speaker of the Missouri House in 2015.
Committee assignments
= 2010 Special Standing Committee on Redistricting (Chairman)
House Elections Committee (Vice-chairman)
Ethics (Chairman)
Joint Committee on Tax Policy
Leadership for Missouri Issue Development
Interim Committee on Election Procedures
Ethics (Chairman)
Joint Committee on Tax Policy
Leadership for Missouri Issue Development
Interim Committee on Election Procedures
Joint Committee on Tax Policy
Intern controversy and resignation
On April 24, 2015, The Kansas City Star contacted Diehl about exchanges of sexually suggestive text messages between himself and a House intern, who was then a college freshman.
The internship program had been abruptly canceled in April 2015 after Missouri Southern State University discovered an "unspecified incident" with a student, which analysts say was likely Diehl"s affair. A few hours after the Star published a report of the exchanges on May 13, Diehl admitted responsibility, stating, "I will begin immediately working to restore the trust of those closest to me and getting back to the important work that is required in the final days of session." However, he resigned May 14.
He was replaced by Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff.
He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1987 with a degree in political science. He has been chairman of the Saint Louis County Board of Election Commissioners, chairman of the Town and Country Police Commission, chairman of Town and Country Conservation Commission, a member of the Town and Country Architectural Review Board, chairman of the Town and Country Longview House Renovation Committee, on the Governor"s Advisory Council on Driving While Impaired, Town and Country ombudsman to the West County Express Mail Service and Fire Protection District, and a member of the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers Election Center.
He was also a member of the Town and Country Board of Aldermen from the first ward. = 2013 Ex officio member of all committees of the House
= 2014 Ex officio member of all committees of the House
= 2015 Ex officio member of all committees of the House.
Married; 3 children.