Efforts increase to impeach Governor Greitens

The leadership crisis continues for Gov. Eric Greitens, as lawmakers are working on plans for his possible impeachment.

After lawmakers from both parties asked for, then demanded the governor’s resignation, Greitens dug in his heels and said he will not resign. With lawmakers’ efforts to remove Greitens, it may not be his choice.

On the move toward impeachment the state’s 56th governor, Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R said, “I’ve never seen as much cooperation between members of the House and Senate, committee members, chairmen, the speaker, the minority leader.”

House Speaker Todd Richardson said a “substantial” number of Republican lawmakers already have signed a petition to call the legislature into a special session on the governor’s removal — if it’s needed.

Minority Floor Leader Gail McCann Beatty, who has previously been reserved and has called for patience on the matter, said “I think that I have seen enough. This is a cloud over our state. It’s embarrassing and we need to be moving forward to resolve this sooner than later.”

Some lawmakers say the ongoing developments and controversies surrounding the governor are slowing down the people’s business.

ABC 17 News asked the governor’s office for a few minutes with the governor to get his reaction. As of this writing, no one responded to our request.