Special investigative committee meets regarding accusations against governor
The special investigative committee met Wednesday at noon for an hour to talk about the accusations against Gov. Eric Greitens and work towards the impeachment process.
ABC 17 News was at the state Capitol on Tuesday and Wednesday, where lawmakers shared their concerns regarding the special investigative committee report.
Columbia Representative Kip Kendrick said with the focus being on Greitens it’s slowing down work for lawmakers.
Kendrick said Tuesday afternoon that the recent allegations released by Attorney General Josh Hawley show more abuse of power by the governor.
On Tuesday, Hawley held a press conference regarding Greiten’s use of a nonprofit organization donor list from The Mission Continues in St. Louis without permission.
Hawley stated that St. Louis attorneys are currently investigating all the material that has been sent over to them.
When Kendrick was asked how he thought a sit-down between himself and the governor would go, he said, “At this point, you know, the report has been released, the bipartisan group, there were many attorneys sitting in that room (who) found the witnesses to be credible. (They) definitely found the victim to be credible, I don’t believe that there would be any reason why I would want to sit down with the man at this point. I am extremely horrified by what I read. I believe that the allegations rose to a level of sexual assault. I would have nothing to say to him. There’s nothing, nothing, that I could be told by him that would convince me that he deserves to stay in the office and that he deserves any respect from Missourians.”
Rep. Kevin Engler from Farmington, Missouri, said he worked hard on Greiten’s campaign and has since second guessed that effort.
“I endorsed him early and it’s just kind of embarrassing when you went out and asked people to vote for him. You thought he was a man of integrity and if he does have integrity he needs to step forward,” Engler said.
Engler stated he wants his colleagues to know that a vote for impeachment in the House simply means it would move on to trial.
Meanwhile House Democrats filed a resolution reaffirming that they want to see Greitens impeached.
The committee is scheduled to meet Thursday at 9 a.m.
