JIM SALTER, Associated Press
DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Interviews with several elected officials and newly released records show some of Missouri’s top leaders tried to pressure Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson to resign after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

Ferguson Mayor James Knowles III told The Associated Press Friday there were several meetings where pressure was applied.

Jackson never resigned.

Missouri House Speaker John Diehl and U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill confirmed they both attended a meeting where efforts to oust Jackson were discussed, while a grand jury was still considering the case.

Records provided to AP under an open records request include a Nov. 10 email from St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar to an assistant that appears to describe the meeting. It references the potential timing of Jackson’s “separation” and identifies a potential successor.