ST. LOUIS (AP) — A growing number of Republicans are questioning whether Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens should remain in office and are backing a legislative investigation that could lead to impeachment proceedings following the Republican governor’s indictment on an invasion of privacy charge related to an extramarital affair.
Several lawmakers, including some Republicans, are calling on Greitens to resign. The second-highest ranking senator, Majority Leader Mike Kehoe, stopped short of urging resignation but questioned whether Greitens could still effectively lead the state.
“His actions have damaged the reputation of the office,” Kehoe said in a statement late Thursday.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced Thursday that a grand jury had indicted the governor following an investigation launched in January, a day after Greitens admitted having an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015. The indictment accuses him of taking a compromising photo of the woman without her consent during a sexual encounter at his home.
Greitens released a statement saying he made a mistake but “did not commit a crime.” He accused Gardner, a Democrat who was also elected in November 2016, of playing politics.
“With today’s disappointing and misguided political decision, my confidence in our prosecutorial system is shaken, but not broken,” Greitens said. “I know this will be righted soon. The people of Missouri deserve better than a reckless liberal prosecutor who uses her office to score political points.”
Missouri Republican Party Executive Director Sam Cooper echoed those sentiments Friday, calling the indictment a “political hit job.”
Among those calling for Greitens’ resignation is Republican Sen. Gary Romine, who said impeachment proceedings should begin immediately if Greitens doesn’t step down.
“We need to get this behind us for the betterment of the state,” Romine said. “It is clear the governor cannot lead effectively while defending himself against this criminal charge.”
Greitens was taken into custody Thursday in St. Louis and released on his own recognizance. He canceled plans to be in Washington this weekend for the National Governors Association annual meeting, and the Republican Governors Association said Greitens “no longer intends to serve” on its executive committee.
Greitens’ attorney, Edward L. Dowd Jr. has filed a motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that any relationship with the woman was consensual. If the indictment stands, the first court hearing is scheduled for March 16. The sentence for felony invasion of privacy is up to four years in prison.
Republican leaders in the Missouri House have announced plans to form a group of lawmakers to investigate the charges “and answer the question as to whether or not the governor can lead our state while a felony case moves forward.”
The joint statement Thursday from House Speaker Todd Richardson, Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr and Majority Leader Rob Vescovo didn’t specifically mention impeachment, a process that must begin in the House with an investigation. But for some lawmakers, impeachment is on the table.
“Missourians thought they voted for a person of character and integrity, and instead they got a liar and alleged criminal,” Democratic Sen. Jamilah Nasheed of St. Louis said.
Republican Sen. Caleb Rowden and Rep. Kevin Corlew also called on Greitens to resign. Another Republican, Sen. Rob Schaaf — who has long feuded with Greitens — tweeted on Jan. 10, when Greitens first admitted to the affair: “Stick a fork in him.” On Thursday, he posted, “… he’s done.”
Since the affair became public, Greitens, 43, has frequently vowed not to step down. On Thursday, he said the indictment “will not for a moment deter me from doing the important work of the great people of Missouri.”
The indictment states that on March 21, 2015, Greitens photographed a woman identified only by her initials “in a state of full or partial nudity” without her knowledge or consent. The indictment said Greitens “transmitted the image contained in the photograph in a manner that allowed access to that image via a computer.”
Soon after the affair began, the woman’s husband secretly recorded a conversation in which she described the alleged incident. She said on the tape that Greitens invited her downstairs at his home because he wanted to show her “how to do a proper pull-up.”
She said Greitens “taped my hands to these rings and then put a blindfold on me,” took a photo of her partially nude, and then warned her to remain silent.
“I saw a flash through the blindfold and he said, ‘You’re never going to mention my name,'” she said.
Greitens has repeatedly denied blackmailing the woman. He also has repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he took a photo.
Greitens, a married father of two young boys, came into office as a political outsider, a brash Rhodes Scholar and former Navy SEAL officer who was wounded in Iraq. He emerged as the winner in a crowded and expensive GOP primary.
A former boxer and martial arts expert, he has embraced the role of maverick. He responded to a Democratic attack ad in the fall of 2016 with one of his own in which he fired more than 100 rounds from a machine gun as an announcer declared he’d bring out “the big guns” to fight Democratic policies championed by then-President Barack Obama.
Greitens surprised many experts by defeating Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster in the November 2016 election. Some saw him as a rising Republican star with potential presidential aspirations.
But governing hasn’t always been easy, even though Republicans also control the state House and Senate. Greitens and GOP lawmakers have often clashed, with him comparing some to third-graders and labeling them “career politicians.”
He has also faced questions about so-called “dark money” campaign contributions and criticism for stacking the state board of education. His use of a secretive app that deletes messages is under investigation by Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley.
Greitens’ charity, The Mission Continues, faced scrutiny during the campaign when Democrats accused him of insider politics for accessing the donor list to raise about $2 million through its top contributors.
___
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens remains defiant, even amid calls for impeachment or resignation, after a St. Louis grand jury indicted him for felony invasion of privacy, alleging the Republican took a compromising photo of a woman during an extramarital affair the year before he was elected.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner on Thursday announced the indictment that followed an investigation launched in January, a day after Greitens admitted to an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015.
Greitens, in a statement, said he made a mistake but “did not commit a crime.” He accused Gardner, a Democrat who was also elected in November 2016, of playing politics.
“With today’s disappointing and misguided political decision, my confidence in our prosecutorial system is shaken, but not broken,” Greitens said. “I know this will be righted soon. The people of Missouri deserve better than a reckless liberal prosecutor who uses her office to score political points.”
Gardner’s spokeswoman, Susan Ryan, responded: “Despite the Governor’s personal attacks, the Circuit Attorney believes the courtroom is the appropriate place to argue the facts, not the media.”
Greitens’ attorney, in a separate statement, called the indictment “baseless and unfounded.” Attorney Edward L. Dowd Jr. filed a motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that any relationship with the woman was consensual.
A few lawmakers from both parties suggested that Greitens should consider resigning, just as they did after he admitted to the affair on Jan. 10.
House Republican leaders announced they were forming a group of lawmakers to investigate the charges “and answer the question as to whether or not the governor can lead our state while a felony case moves forward.” Dowd said the governor welcomes the review.
The joint statement from House Speaker Todd Richardson, Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr and Majority Leader Rob Vescovo did not specifically mention impeachment, a process that must begin in the House with an investigation.
But for some lawmakers, impeachment is on the table.
“Gov. Greitens has to go,” Democratic state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed of St. Louis said. “Missourians thought they voted for a person of character and integrity, and instead they got a liar and alleged criminal.”
Greitens, 43, has frequently vowed that he won’t step down. He indicated Thursday he intends to stay and fight.
“This will not for a moment deter me from doing the important work of the great people of Missouri,” Greitens said in the statement.
The indictment states that on March 21, 2015, Greitens photographed a woman identified only by her initials “in a state of full or partial nudity” without her knowledge or consent. The indictment said Greitens “transmitted the image contained in the photograph in a manner that allowed access to that image via a computer.”
Soon after the affair began, the woman’s husband secretly recorded a conversation in which she said Greitens took the compromising photo at his home and threatened to use it as blackmail if she spoke about the affair.
Greitens has repeatedly denied blackmailing the woman, but has repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he took a photo.
Greitens was taken into custody in St. Louis and released on his own recognizance. He is due in court for his first hearing on March 16, before Circuit Judge Rex Burlison. He could face up to a four-year sentence if convicted.
The statute of limitations for invasion of privacy in Missouri is three years, which means it was due to expire in less than a month.
Ryan, asked if additional charges could be filed, said the matter is still under investigation. Several lawmakers were questioned last week by investigators from Gardner’s office.
Greitens, the father of two young boys, came into office as a political outsider, a brash Rhodes Scholar and Navy SEAL officer who was wounded in Iraq, emerging as the winner in a crowded and expensive GOP primary.
A former boxer and martial arts expert, he has embraced the role of maverick. He responded to a Democratic attack ad in the fall of 2016 with one of his own in which he fired more than 100 rounds from a machine gun as an announcer declared he’d bring out “the big guns” to fight Democratic policies championed by then-President Barack Obama.
Greitens surprised many experts by defeating Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster in the November 2016 election. Some saw him as a rising Republican star with potential presidential aspirations.
But governing hasn’t always been easy, even though Republicans now control both houses as well as the governor’s mansion. Greitens and GOP lawmakers have often clashed, with him comparing some to third-graders and labeling them “career politicians.”
He has also faced questions about so-called “dark money” campaign contributions and criticism for stacking the state board of education. His use of a secretive app that deletes messages is under investigation by Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley.
Greitens’ charity, The Mission Continues, faced scrutiny during the campaign when Democrats accused him of insider politics for accessing the donor list to raise about $2 million through its top contributors.
———–
5:30 p.m.
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens will face a court appearance March 16 after being indicted by a St. Louis grand jury on a felony invasion of privacy charge.
Court records show that Greitens will appear before Circuit Judge Rex Burlison. No further details about the hearing were released.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the indictment Thursday. She launched an investigation in January after Greitens admitted to an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015. He was elected governor in November 2016.
The woman told her husband, who was secretly taping the conversation, that Greitens took a compromising photo of her at his home and threatened to use it as blackmail if she spoke about the affair.
Greitens’ attorney called the indictment “baseless and unfounded,” and says he will seek to have it dismissed.
___
5:15 p.m.
Some Democratic lawmakers are calling on Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens to resign or be impeached following his indictment on a felony invasion-of-privacy charge.
House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty said Thursday that Greitens should consider resigning. She said it “will be extremely difficult for him to effectively do his job with a felony indictment hanging over his head.”
Democratic Sen. Jamilah Nasheed called on Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson to begin impeachment proceedings against Greitens. Richardson had no immediate comment.
Greitens has acknowledged having an extramarital affair in 2015.
The indictment from a St. Louis grand jury accuses Greitens of photographing a fully or partially nude woman and transmitting that image.
His attorney Edward Dowd Jr. called the criminal charges “baseless and unfounded” and said Greitens is innocent.
___
5 p.m.
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ attorney says a felony invasion of privacy charge against the Republican is “baseless and unfounded.”
Lawyer Edward Dowd on Thursday said the governor is “absolutely innocent” in response to St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s announcement of a grand jury indictment against Greitens related to his affair with a woman in 2015.
Dowd in a statement said Greitens will file a motion to dismiss the charges.
Gardner launched an investigation in January after Greitens admitted to the affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015. He was elected governor in November 2016.
The woman told her husband, who was secretly taping the conversation, that Greitens took a compromising photo of her at his home and threatened to use it as blackmail if she spoke about the affair.
A news release from Gardner says it is a felony if a person transmits an image “in a manner that allows access to that image via a computer.”
___
4:20 p.m.
A St. Louis grand jury has indicted Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens on a felony invasion of privacy charge related to the Republican’s affair with a woman in 2015.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the indictment Thursday. She launched an investigation in January after Greitens admitted to an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015. He was elected governor in November 2016.
The woman told her husband, who was secretly taping the conversation, that Greitens took a compromising photo of her at his home and threatened to use it as blackmail if she spoke about the affair. A news release from Gardner says it is a felony if a person transmits an image “in a manner that allows access to that image via a computer.”
Messages seeking comment from Greitens and his attorney were not immediately returned.