Resolution would give House committee power to start impeachment
A Kansas City Democrat introduced a resolution Tuesday that could start impeachment proceedings against Gov. Eric Greitens.
The resolution from House Minority Floor Leader Rep. Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, would give power to the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight to file articles of impeachment “upon a finding of good cause.”
Beatty told ABC 17 News Wednesday she filed the resolution because some had different interpretations of the original resolution, which formed the special investigative committee.
“While some of us are of the opinion that it would allow them to proceed with articles of impeachment, if necessary, there are some that believe we needed to have a second resolution.”
The committee released a report on April 11 delving into an affair Greitens had with his hairdresser in 2015. The woman testified to them about several sexual encounters, including one in which Greitens allegedly took a photo of her while blindfolded and partially nude without her consent. The photo is the center of Greitens’ pending invasion of privacy case in St. Louis, a crime he has repeatedly denied committing.
Beatty’s resolution refers to the report, which she said “consisted of detailed actions taken by the highest official in the state that are disturbing, abusive and criminal.” House rules leave it to any committee tasked with investigating a public official’s conduct to introduce articles of impeachment, and Beatty’s resolution would authorize them to do so.
The resolution garnered 26 co-sponsors by Wednesday evening, according to the House website, all of whom, except one, are Democrats. That includes Columbia state representatives Martha Stevens and Kip Kendrick.
“After the report that came out from the committee last week, I thought there was certainly enough in that report to go forward with, with looking toward impeachment,” said Rep. Judy Morgan, D-Kansas City, who also co-sponsored the resolution.
Rep. Steve Cookson, R-Poplar Bluff, is the lone Republican to sign on to the resolution.
“If it’s inevitable and things aren’t going to get better for the governor, then the quicker we can get back to the people’s businesses totally,” he said. “I think the people will be better served for it and that’s what we’re here for is to serve the people, the citizens of the state of Missouri.”
The investigative committee, led by Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, voted to continue its work until the end of the regular legislative session, which is May 18. Speaker of the House Rep. Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, said last week that he would support a special session to consider what punishment, if any, should be levied against Greitens. He said the committee would determine a recommendation for that punishment based on its findings.
Richardson and other legislative leaders called for Greitens’ resignation on Tuesday after Attorney General Josh Hawley announced possible criminal charges against the governor for his campaign’s use of a donor list to the charity The Mission Continues.
