‘Missouri Times’ owner testifies to Special Investigative Committee

You can watch the Special Investigative meeting live here.

The Special Investigative Committee looking into allegations of misconduct against Gov. Eric Greitens, including impeachment, met for day two of week one of the special session Wednesday.

Missouri Times publisher Scott Faughn testified in front of the committee for more than three hours Wednesday. Faughn is a former Capitol press corps member who was kicked out of the press corps after he was accused of making a payment to the lawyer of Greitens’ mistress’s ex-husband.

Special Investigative Committee Chair Jay Barnes said to Faughn, “No one believes it was your own money.” The committee continually questioned Faughn on where he received the $120,000. Faughn’s attorney, Charles Hatfield, intervened during the testimony multiple times to say that is Faughn’s private business matter and advised Faughn not to answer the question.

Faughn admitted to giving Al Watkins $120,000. He said $100,000 of it was for three recorded tapes from Greitens’ former mistress’ ex-husband. However, Faughn said only one was relevant.

Faughn testified that he personally delivered two payments of $50,000 to Watkins, but could not recall who delivered the last payment, except that it was an employee from his Clayton office. He later said he only has two employees in that office.

“I would never have $50,000 cash and second of all I would never hand it to anyone to deliver,” Barnes said.

Committee members spent most of Tuesday reading the woman’s testimony to a grand jury that indicted Greitens on an invasion of privacy charge. The committee read the woman’s testimony taken in depositions by Greitens’ attorneys Wednesday.

Barnes said the committee would continue Wednesday night until the committee was “fatigued.” The committee met until around 7 p.m. The committee will hear Al Watkins’ testimony at 9 a.m. Thursday.

The House panel is considering whether to impeach Greitens.