State GOP leaders call on Gov. Greitens to resign

With another criminal charge possibly in the works against Gov. Eric Greitens, Missouri’s top Republican leaders want him to step down.

Speaker of the House Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff), Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) and Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo (R-Arnold) released a statement late Tuesday reacting to Attorney General Josh Hawley’s decision to forward potential charges to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office regarding Greitens’ campaign and his charity, The Mission Continues.

“At the outset of this process, we said the governor needed to be forthright and accountable for his actions,” the statement said. “After thoughtful consideration of the findings in the House committee’s report and today’s news that the Attorney General has evidence to support another felony charge, we believe the governor needs to take responsibility for his actions.

” Leaders at all levels of government are entrusted with an incredible responsibility to the Missourians we represent. When leaders lose the ability to effectively lead our state, the right thing to do is step aside. In our view, the time has come for the governor to resign.”

Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard (R-Joplin) said impeachment proceedings should start immediately based on the severity of the allegations.

“We are past the point of concerning and alarming,” Richard said. “Since his time in office, the governor has caused tension, conflict and hostility. The weight of his actions are being felt throughout the state. Now, these alleged illegal actions are further harmful to the people of Missouri and do not represent Missouri values. It’s time for the governor to find the courage in his heart and do what is in the best interests of the people he serves and step aside.”

Gov. Greitens once more pointed to a scheduled May trial on his pending felony invasion of privacy charge stemming from his admitted affair in 2015.

“I will not be resigning the Governor’s office,” Greitens said in a statement. ” In three weeks , this matter will go to a court of law–where it belongs and where the facts will prove my innocence. Until then, I will do what the people of Missouri sent me here to do: to serve them and work hard on their behalf.”

The statute of limitations on the new crime, computer tampering, is quickly approaching, according to Hawley. He said he would help the Circuit Attorney’s Office any way he could, but did not elaborate on when the statute of limitations would expire.

Bill Tackett, a former Cole County prosecutor, said the circuit attorney’s office could review the case relatively quickly, but due to the political nature of the case, should re-interview some of the witnesses in the case.

“[Prosecutors] have to go in front of a jury, and that jury doesn’t care if it’s Republican or Democrat,” Tackett said. “If you don’t have the evidence, then you lose.”