Greitens invasion of privacy charge: Lawmakers say dismissal won’t affect special investigation

Lawmakers in both the House and Senate said the dismissal of Governor Greitens criminal invasion of privacy charge will not have any affect on the House special committee’s investigation.

“Personally, I think it makes no difference. We are a separate, individual legislative body. We are conducting our investigation accordingly-what happens in the city of St. Louis as to those criminal charges shouldn’t impact any of the work that we’re doing or the work that we have left to do,” Rep. Gina Mitten, (D) Asst. Minority Floor Leader and ranking member of the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight said Monday.

Several other lawmakers did not respond to a request for comment Monday. In a text message, Rep. Chuck Basye (D) – Columbia said he won’t comment until the investigation is complete.

Mitten also said she hopes the dismissal of the invasion of privacy charge won’t have any effect on any possible impeachment proceedings.

“Impeachment proceeding or the process according to the constitution is a little bit different and we are our own legislative body. So, my hope is that it wouldn’t make any difference because evidence that we present, if we get to that place, will not be the same evidence as what Kim Gardner or anyone else would be presenting,” she said.

Mitten made it clear that the committee still has more work to do. When asked if the committee could issue a third report she replied, “anything is possible.”

“It’s too hard to me to say whether that’s going to happen. We are waiting for further information that needs to be received and certainly looked at and we’ll act accordingly once that happens,” she said.

Members of the House and Senate also released the following statements Monday with regards to the dismissal of the criminal charge:

House Speaker Todd Richardson, House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, and House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo:
“The legislature is a separate and a co-equal branch of government with a separate responsibility entrusted to it by our Constitution. We owe it to Missourians to have a fair and thorough investigation of the facts. To date the committee’s work has not only provided two reports on the facts to the General Assembly but, more importantly, it has also exposed additional concerns relating to the governor’s conduct. This is why we remain committed to that process and await any recommendations it has for the House. Without the pending trial this week, it allows the Governor to take advantage of our open offer to share his side of the facts.”

Missouri Senate Majority Caucus Leaders:
“The dismissal of the felony invasion of privacy charge does not change the facts that have been revealed to the Missouri House of Representative’s Special Investigative Committee on Oversight. The House’s investigation and the Circuit Attorney’s case are two separate paths. The members of the House committee have discovered a disturbing pattern of allegations, most of which are completely separate from the case dismissed today. They need time to finish their investigation. We now hope the governor and his staff are more forthcoming with the facts, and they decide to appear before the special investigative committee. The governor has lost the moral authority and the ability to lead the state going forward, and we reaffirm our call that he resign immediately.”