JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – One week away from the start of the criminal trial against Republican Gov. Eric Greitens, and the news cycle continues to be dominated by a flurry of investigations and legal motions.
Here’s a breakdown of the latest headlines:
1. Special session will happen
The Missouri Legislature will be headed to a special session to hold possible impeachment hearings against Republican Gov. Eric Greitens starting May 18th. In a historic move, and just one day after the release of a second report by the House’s Special Investigative Committee on Oversight, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in the Missouri House gathered 138 signatures to call themselves into special session. Members of the Missouri Senate met behind closed doors on Thursday afternoon for hours discussing the matter, before finally turning in 29 signatures.
According to the petition, lawmakers will return to session to consider the findings and recommendations of the House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight’s work regarding Gov. Eric Greitens, “including, but not limited to disciplinary actions” against the Republican executive.
2. Will Greitens testify?
A story published by Missourinet this past weekend reported that Greitens would not be testifying, but that story was later changed to state that the defense had not decided yet on whether they would put the Governor on the stand. It’s an interesting choice to prolong the decision, but a decision by the defense to not put the accused on the stand is nothing new in the courts.
The defense says no decision has been made at this time regarding whether the governor will testify. Attorneys Ed Dowd and Scott Rosenblum say they’re leaving all options on the table. In a statement from them, they go on to say that decision is universally not made until the conclusion of the State’s case and after a thorough review of the State’s evidence at that time.
3. Prosecutors get a warrant to search Greitens’ Google account
http://www.kmov.com/story/38128829/prosecutors-get-warrant-to-search-greitens-google-account
In a filing dated May 4th, prosecutors indicated they had a search warrant for “EG Google account.” The exact search warrant documents are under seal. In a separate document, filed Monday, the governor’s defense team provided additional information.
“On May 3, 2018, a search warrant was issued for everything related to the Eric Greitens email account,” their filing wrote, indicating a personal account.
The defense team, however, claims there is no probable cause to support the search warrant. They are asking the judge to prohibit the search of Greitens’ email. The prosecutors’ affidavit in support of the search warrant, defense lawyers say, claims that there may be evidence a photograph had been accessed or destroyed, due to an uptick of activity on that email account.
4. Requesting a trial by judge again
Greitens’ defense team last week asked Judge Burlison to waive a jury trial once again and issue a decision on the case from the bench.
“Gov. Eric Greitens was hopeful that a fair and impartial jury could be impaneled. However, the constant negative publicity about Gov. Greitens has destroyed any chance of obtaining a fair jury,” the 14-page motion said. “The stories are untrue, they leap to conclusions based on witnesses not subject to cross-examination, and they will be refuted at trial.”
It’s worth noting that Burlison has already once decided against a bench trial.
5. No cameras in the courtroom
https://themissouritimes.com/50798/no-video-cameras-in-the-courtroom-for-greitens-trial/
Judge Burlison has already made it clear – there will be no video cameras allowed in the courtroom during the Governor’s trial. However, a ruling is still expected to decide whether reporters will be allowed to record audio of the trial.
Judge Burlison also ruled that the woman’s testimony in the case will be allowed.
6. Washington University now looking into how Greitens used grants
https://themissouritimes.com/50864/washington-university-looking-into-how-greitens-used-grant-funds/
Testimony released by the House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight now has Washington University looking to how Greitens used grant money he received toward his book, “Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life.”
The grant, awarded in 2010, was worth was $362,000.
Washington University’s vice chancellor for campus communication said the take “accountability seriously” and they are “looking into the matter to ensure the funds were used appropriately.”
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.
