Attorney representing governor’s former mistress’ ex-husband speaks to House committee

UPDATE 3:00 P.M.: Discussions between Al Watkins and the Special Investigative Committee were heating up Thursday morning.The committee is considering disciplinary action for Gov. Eric Geitens and heard public testimony from a number of people.

In Watkins’ three-hour testimony, he admitted that Faughn, who testified yesterday and is the publisher of the newspaper Missouri Times, gave him more than $100,000 in a brown folder to help with his client’s legal fees and give him “a soft landing.” The source of that money remains a mystery, but Watkins said in Thursday’s hearing that it came from a wealthy out-of-state Republican.

Committee chairman Jay Barnes asked Watkins if the ex husband did all this out of fear, vengeance or grief and attorney Watkins said there was no vengeance involved.

The more Watkins was questioned by the committee, the more he got upset and had to be reminded to take a breath for raising his voice to members of the committee. He then apologized for his behavior.

After the committee broke for lunch, ABC 17 News met with Greitens’ attorney, Ed Dowd Jr., who said Faughn needs to be ordered to answer the question on where the money came from.

“I’ll tell you one thing I would’ve definitely done if I was asking questions. When Mr. Faughn said ‘I’m not answering that question about my business,’ that’s not a valid basis for not giving this committee and the people of Missouri the information about who is trying to take the governor down. I would have turned to the chairman and said, “Mr. Chairman, order the witness to answer the question.” The only reason Faughn was brought here was to find out where that money came from, and we didn’t find out, so the chairman can then say, ‘I order you to answer the question,’ and if he does not, he can hold him in contempt, think he would have to go to court … and get an answer from him!” Ed Dowd said.

The committee finished it’s hearing at 3 p.m Thursday and will reconvene Friday at 9 a.m., first in a closed meeting to listen to additional tape received by Watkins, which may involve children. Shortly after the closed meeting, the Special Investigative Committee will continue their open testimony.

UPDATE 9:45 A.M.: Al Watkins is currently speaking before the committee in regards to the $120,000 payment he received.

Watkins said he received two payments of $50,000 he said was from a “wealthy out-of-state Republican.”

Committee chairman, Rep. Jay Barnes asked Watkins “why an additional $20,000?” Watkins said, “The first $10,000 is for legal fees the other $10,000 was to help get Watkins’ family out of town at a time when he feared for their security.”

Watkins said the woman’s ex-husband was motivated to move forward with this due to “fear, vengeance and greed.”

ORIGINAL: The special House investigative committee considering whether to recommend Gov. Eric Greitens’ impeachment meets again Thursday.

Committee members are expected to hear from the attorney representing the governor’s former mistress’ ex-husband, Al Watkins.

Watkins told ABC 17 News he is “looking forward to speaking on whatever the committee wants to ask him,” also stating he “understands the very important task in front of them.”

The hearing Thursday comes after the committee heard from Scott Faughn, who admitted to committee members he delivered $120,000 to Watkins in 2017. Faughn said $100,000 of it was for three recorded tapes from Greitens’ former mistress’ ex-husband for a book he’s writing about “Missouri politics.”

Watkins told ABC 17 News it’s “bewildering what a payment to a firm has anything to do with the actions the governor did back in 2015.”

The meeting is scheduled to start at 8 a.m.