Lawmakers react, call for resignation of Governor after House report

Lawmakers are responding to the House Committee report on their investigation of Governor Greitens, which you can access here.

This is a developing story, and will be updated throughout the day. This is a collection of statements made on Wednesday, and does not necessarily include prior statements from legislators.

Hours after the report was released, Attorney General Josh Hawley said in a statement that the Governor should resign. “The conduct the Report details is certainly impeachable, in my judgment,” Hawley said. “And the House is well within its rights to proceed on that front.”

Missouri Representative Vicki Hartzler (R) said in a statement that the report “surpasses disturbing. It is disgusting. This is not behavior befit for a leader in Missouri.” Hartzler did not call for the Governor’s resignation, but said Greitens “is certainly due his day in court.”

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) issued a brief statement saying, “The governor should resign.” The statement follows her tweet that said, “I can’t get my head around a man’s character that would put his wife and children through this kind of pain.”

Lieutenant Governor Mike Parsons, a republican, referred to the House report as “recent events that have distracted our great state,” in a statement. He did not call on the Governor to step down saying, “It is time to unite and put aside our differences.”

Congressional Senator Roy Blunt (R) issued a statement Wednesday night saying, “”The allegations in the report are very concerning. As I said previously, both the legislative and legal processes that are underway are appropriate and should continue moving forward.” Blunt did not call for Greitens to step down as Governor.

Democratic Rep. Gail McCann Beatty released a statement calling on the Governor to step down. The statement said: “For the good of the state, Eric Greitens must immediately resign. If he doesn’t, it will be the duty of the House of Representatives to restore integrity to the executive branch of state government.”

Rep. Peter Merideth (D-St. Louis) tweeted saying, “I’ve read enough. Resign now or be impeached.”

“I respect the office. I have zero respect for that guy,” said Rep. Kip Kendrick (D-Columbia) in a tweet.

Rep. Gina Mitten (D-St. Louis), on behalf of the Democratic members of the investigative committee, released a statement saying that their work is not done. “It is necessary for the committee to extend its investigation in order to finish examining issues beyond those included in the report,” the statement said. The committee is set to dissolve at the end of the legislative session in May.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) called on the Governor to resign in a tweet saying, “Eric Greitens needs to summon the integrity to resign. The Governor’s indefensible actions and the embarrassment he continues to bring to Missouri are causing deep harm to our state.”

Jill Schupp, a Democratic Senator from St. Louis, said in a tweet that “It is time for Eric Greitens to resign.” Schupp said she was “shocked by the Governor, saddened for our state, and heartbroken for the families involved.”

Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) said in a statement, “Governor Greitens has to go.”

Republican Representative Kevin Corlew said in a tweet that he renews his call for Governor Greitens to resign, and says the legislature should “seriously consider impeachment.”

Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Boone and Cooper) said in a statement Greitens should resign, and if he doesn’t the House should “move swiftly towards impeachment.”

Rep. Jean Evans (R-St. Louis) said in a tweet the Governor needs to resign, which she said is “in the best interest of the people of Missouri.”

Another Democratic Representative, Joe Adams of St. Louis, also called on the Governor to resign in a tweet.

Rep. Cora Faith Walker (D-St. Louis) weighed in on the credibility of the witness in a tweet that said, “I believe her.”