JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — One Republican Senator has gone from calling the investigation into the Missouri Governor a “witch hunt” to saying it’s not his “role to be judge nor jury.”
On Thursday, Gov. Eric Greitens was indicted on a first-degree felony invasion of privacy charge relating to an incident that took place in St. Louis on March 21, 2015. 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.
The St. Louis prosecutor launched an investigation into the matter after it came to light in early January. In February, investigators were interviewing people in the Capitol.
Sen. Denny Hoskins told KWIX radion, “Unfortunately, it appears, this could turn into a witch hunt. Many of those questions, my understanding had nothing to do with the allegations of blackmail. It appeared that these private investigators were just trying to fish for any information on anything.”
The situation is evolving, according to Hoskins. He says it has become apparent the grand jury believes there is sufficient evidence to compel the governor to testify.
“However, I do believe it will be difficult for the governor to lead and govern our state while these charges are pending,” Sen. Denny Hoskins said on Friday. “The governor must not only do what is right for the State of Missouri, but also what is right for his children and his wife.
“I urge the governor to swiftly decide if he will have the ability to discharge the powers and duties of his office. We are in the middle of the legislative session and I want to get back to the business of the state; crafting a balanced budget and working on legislation that makes Missouri a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Alisha Shurr was a reporter for The Missouri Times and The Missouri Times Magazine. She joined The Missouri Times in January 2018 after working as a copy editor for her hometown newspaper in Southern Oregon. Alisha is a graduate of Kansas State University.
