by State Rep. J. Eggleston
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Most of the columns I have written have been hopeful, informative, and sometimes a little humorous. But this will be one of the most somber reports I have written, as it relays to you some of the disturbing allegations regarding Gov. Eric Greitens.
A couple months ago, a St. Louis news outlet reported that the governor had an extra-marital affair that might have included criminal activity against the woman with whom he had the affair, his hairdresser. The allegations were disturbing enough that a House of Representatives Special Committee was convened to investigate.
This committee was made of seven House members, with backgrounds in law, police work, and business. The members were both Republican and Democrat, men and women, black and white, and are some of the most upstanding, intelligent, and honorable people you could hope to meet, as are the vast majority of elected officials at the capitol.
On April 11 the committee released a preliminary report on the affair based on their investigation, including testimony from the hairdresser and other witnesses. I won’t go into the details of the report as they are tawdry and not suitable for all audiences. If you wish to read it, it is public record and is posted on the House website (house.mo.gov) under the heading Special Investigative Committee on Oversight.
I will say the details are very concerning, especially if criminal action was involved. According to the report, the affair was instigated by Greitens before he was elected governor, but after he had declared himself a candidate.
The governor has indirectly denied some of the criminal elements, but declined to testify in the House investigation since he is also under criminal indictment in St. Louis for the same case. He is also being scrutinized for campaign finance and sunshine records law issues.
The governor has stated he believes that most of the efforts against him originate from Democrats who want to oust him from office and disrupt the upcoming 2018 elections. According to the report, there is probably some truth to that, but also some truth to his disturbing behavior.
Going forward, the Special House Committee will continue to investigate, and the governor will undergo a criminal trial relating to the affair in St. Louis in May.
We in the legislature will continue to debate and pass good bills to improve our state, and will try not to let the governor’s troubles distract us from that duty. If enough evidence is gathered to suggest that the governor should be impeached, that will not likely happen before our adjournment in mid-May and would be addressed in a Special Session this summer.
It is also possible that evidence will come to light that exonerates the governor and he will retain his job.
If impeachment does come to pass, there is a line of succession outlined in our Missouri Constitution (Lieutenant Governor, Senate President Pro Tem, Speaker of the House, etc.) filled with distinguished and honorable men with many years of public service that would make a highly qualified replacement.