Lawyer for Greitens’ ex-wife calls for public statement denouncing threats

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Former Missouri governor Eric Greitens' lawyer released a statement denouncing a tweet and an email threatening violence toward his family.

The ex-wife of Eric Greitens asked for a public statement from the politician denouncing violence against her, Sheena Chestnut Greitens' lawyer said Thursday in court.

Sheena Greitens was in Columbia for a hearing in a child custody case before Judge Leslie Schneider.

Her lawyer, Helen Wade, said Sheena Greitens received threats since Eric Greitens' campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate released a heavily criticized ad on social media this week.

In an email to ABC 17 News, Eric Greitens' lawyer Gary Stamper called Wade's request a "calculated ambush." However, Stamper did release a statement denouncing" the email and Twitter post brought up in court.

"We saw no evidence of death threats," the statement reads. "Opposing counsel asked us to denounce the email and post. We do."

In the ad, Eric Greitens appears with a shotgun and busts into a house with a group of men dressed in military garb. The candidate tells the camera he's going hunting for RINOs -- Republicans in Name Only.

The lawyer for Eric Greitens, Gary Stamper, said in court Thursday his client could make such a statement later Thursday.

The ad has drawn national attention and condemnation from some Missouri Republicans. State Sen. Dave Schatz, also a candidate in the U.S. Senate primary, planned a stop in Columbia later Thursday with state Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden to talk about the Greitens ad.

Some conservatives are also trying to recruit an independent candidate to run against Greitens, who continues to perform well in polls.

A trial in the case is set for July 15.