JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Al Watkins is calling out some supporters of Gov. Eric Greitens for “slut-shaming” the woman involved in the extramarital affair that lies at the center of the investigation into the Republican governor.
Watkins, the attorney for the ex-husband of the woman whom Greitens had an affair with in 2015, held a press conference at the Jefferson City Police Department less than two hours before his client was scheduled to testify before the Missouri House’s investigatory committee.
During the press conference, he said that supporters of the governor had been slinging mud at the woman, casting her in a negative light and attacking her credibility. He said he was speaking out against them because of his client’s children with the woman.
He also alluded to racial undertones to the attacks against the St. Louis Circuit Attorney, and when Watkins was asked if he believed the photo that was to allegedly be used for blackmail exists, he responded that he has not seen it, but believed it did exist.
A motion filed by Greitens’ attorneys on Thursday alluded to prosecutors enticing witnesses to testify by offering leniency or threatening possible charges against them, which Watkins turned around on the Governor, saying he and his supporters had shown a pattern and practice that is designed to “malign, belittle, berate and intimidate.”
Watch the full press conference here:
Benjamin Peters was a reporter for The Missouri Times and Missouri Times Magazine and also produced the #MoLeg Podcast. He joined The Missouri Times in 2016 after working as a sports editor and TV news producer in mid-Missouri. Benjamin is a graduate of Missouri State University in Springfield.
