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Following indictment, House will open investigation into Governor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — On Thursday, the governor of the Show-Me State was indicted, and arrested, on a Class D felony. Now, House leadership plans to move forward with an investigation. 

In a joint statement issued Thursday evening, House Speaker Todd Richardson, Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, and Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo said, “We will carefully examine the facts contained in the indictment and answer the question as to whether or not the governor can lead our state while a felony case moves forward. The people of Missouri deserve no less. We will begin the process of tasking a group of legislators to investigate these serious charges.”

It is worth noting that the Missouri House of Representatives has the power of subpoena.

Thirteen months into his term as governor, Eric Greitens has been indicted on a first-degree felony invasion of privacy charge relating to an incident that took place in St. Louis on March 21, 2015.

“We welcome reviewing this issue with the independent, bipartisan committee of the Missouri House of Representatives,” Ed Dowd, Jr. of the Governor’s legal team said. “For 40 years as an attorney for the public and for private litigants, I have never seen anything like this. The charges are unfounded and baseless. The Governor is absolutely innocent. Not only is he presumed innocent – he is innocent. This whole investigation is completely unusual. This statute has never been used like this in Missouri history. In unprecedented fashion, the Circuit Attorney circumvented the local police force and hired her own investigators – we attempted to meet with the Circuit Attorney and make the Governor available to discuss the issues. They refused. She proceeded to file an indictment that has no facts. We will work with the committee. We will be deposing witnesses and will be happy to share information with you with the Court’s permission.”

The charge is believed be related to his admitted-extramarital affair in 2015, where there is an audiotape of a woman allege Greitens took a photo of her while bound and partially nude and then threatened her is she made the affair public.   

Since the scandal broke on January 10, 2018 — hours after Greitens’ second State of the State address — House leadership has said they will wait for the local investigation to play out. 

Before House leadership made their announcement several legislators spoke out and called for action.

“This investigation has taken on a very sad state for the state of Missouri and it is time for us as members of the Missouri General Assembly to do our constitutional duties and start an investigation and see where it leads,” Rep. Nate Walker said. “I am calling on the Speaker of the House and House leadership to immediately begin the process of starting an independent and fair investigation into the workings of Gov. Greitens and surrounding his indictment and any other issues that might need to be addressed,” said Walker.

“Gov. Greitens has to go,” Sen. Jamilah Nasheed said. “Missourians thought they voted for a person of character and integrity, and instead they got a liar and alleged criminal. I am calling on the Honorable Speaker of the House Todd Richardson to immediately begin the impeachment proceedings so that the people of Missouri can move forward.”

“It will be extremely difficult for the governor to effectively do his job with a felony indictment hanging over his head,” House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty said. “While the criminal justice system must run its course, the governor needs to consider whether remaining in office under these circumstances is the right thing to do for not only himself and his family but for the people of Missouri.”

“Right now, my thoughts are with the women and families whose lives are forever changed because of Eric Greitens’ behavior and actions,” Senate Democratic Leader Gina Walsh said. “Too often, women in our state and nation are subject to intimidation, threats and even violence at the hands of those in power. No more. It’s time our state takes a stand and ensures that women everywhere are able to seek the justice and equality they rightfully deserve.”