Political expert weighs in on whether Greitens can survive calls for resignation

A second round of resignation calls for Gov. Eric Greitens came Wednesday evening after the House Investigative Committee released part of its report detailing witness testimony from his former mistress.

Peverill Squire, a political science professor at the University of Missouri, said Greitens is in a difficult position now that members of his own party have called on him to step down as governor.

“It’s very unusual to see members of one’s own party make those sorts of requests,” he said. “It’s a set of circumstances that you’d be hard pressed to find anything really like it in recent modern American history.”

Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe became the highest ranking member of the state legislature to call for Greitens’ resignation Thursday. Kehoe said the report’s allegations show Greitens has lost the “moral authority and the ability to lead.”

Republican Senator Rob Schaaf wrote a letter to President Trump asking him to join other members of the Missouri legislature calling on Greitens to step down.

Sen. Denny Hoskins, R – Warrensburg, also released a statement Thursday, but stopped short of calling for the governor to resign.

“This is a serious matter, and it is anything but a political witch hunt,” he said.

Hoskins did write that he believes the House has enough evidence to begin the impeachment process.

“Missourians deserve a leader with strong moral character. The acts described in the report are appalling and bring up more questions about his ability to lead.”

Squire said it will continue to become more difficult for Greitens to continue as governor.

“I think it’s the accumulation of issues in the majority party — Republicans in the General Assembly — have with him will almost make it impossible for him to continue,” he said.