UPDATE: Circuit Attorney’s Office releases additional statement in response to Greitens indictment

UPDATE 10:04 P.M.: After Gov. Greitens and his lawyer released their statements, the Circuit Attorney’s Office of St. Louis followed up with their own:

“Despite the Governor’s personal attacks, the Circuit Attorney believes the courtroom is the appropriate place to argue the facts, not the media. Kim Gardner maintains her unwavering confidence in our system of justice to bring this matter to a fair and just resolution.

The lawyers for Governor Greitens contacted the Circuit Attorney’s Office yesterday to meet for a “secret” meeting next week of counsel only. The Circuit Attorney asked if the Governor would be making a statement that is any different from his public statements. His lawyers said they wanted to share the “human” side of his story. The Circuit Attorney makes charging decisions based upon facts and evidence. Without additional facts and information from the Governor, the meeting was not necessary.

It is not unusual for the Circuit Attorney to conduct an independent investigation. There are many examples over the previous 15 years where the Circuit Attorney conducted Grand Jury investigations without the use of the police department.”

UPDATE 9:14 P.M.: Governor Greitens’ lawyer, Edward L. Dowd Jr., has released another statement on the indictment:

“We welcome reviewing this issue with the independent, bipartisan committee of the Missouri House of Representatives.

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.”

ORIGINAL STORY: A St. Louis grand jury indicted Missouri governor Eric Greitens Thursday after a month-long investigation into allegations he blackmailed a former mistress.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner issued a statement this afternoon:

“Today, a City of St. Louis Grand Jury indicted Missouri Governor Eric Greitens on a Felony Invasion of Privacy charge for an incident that took place on March 21, 2015 in the City of St. Louis. Under Missouri law, the Grand Jury has found probable cause to believe that Governor Greitens violated Missouri State Statute 565.252, which was in place at the time of the violation. The statute has a special three-year statute of limitations per 565.255.

This statute has a provision for both a felony and misdemeanor. The law makes it a felony if a person transmits the image contained in the photograph or film in a manner that allows access to that image via a computer. As I have stated before, it is essential for residents of the City of St. Louis and our state to have confidence in their leaders. They must know that the Office of the Circuit Attorney will hold public officials accountable in the same manner as any other resident of our city. Both parties and the people of St. Louis deserve a thorough investigation of these allegations.

While I have committed to being as transparent as possible in this matter, we are limited in what we can discuss because it’s an ongoing investigation. If anyone has any information related to this matter, I encourage them to contact my office immediately.”

The indictment spells out the felony of invasion of privacy in the first degree after the Governor photographed his mistress fully or partially nude without her consent and made the image available via computer.

The Governor responded tonight with a statement, denying the incident:

“As I have said before, I made a personal mistake before I was Governor. I did not commit a crime. With today’s disappointing and misguided political decision, my confidence in our prosecutorial system is shaken, but not broken. I know this will be righted soon. The people of Missouri deserve better than a reckless liberal prosecutor who uses her office to score political points. I look forward to the legal remedies to reverse this action. This will not for a moment deter me from doing the important work of the great people of Missouri.”

Gov. Greitens’ lawyer, Edward L. Dowd Jr., released an additional statement:

“In forty years of public and private practice, I have never seen anything like this. The charges against my client are baseless and unfounded. My client is absolutely innocent. We will be filing a motion to dismiss.”

Gov. Greitens’ arrest warrant can be seen below:

House leadership will examine this indictment closely.