Sheena Greitens says she stands by allegations of abuse against ex-husband

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Sheena Greitens, ex-wife of former Missouri governor Eric Greitens, said Tuesday that she stands by allegations of abuse she made against her ex-husband in court filings in the couple's child custody case.

Sheena Greitens' allegations were made public Monday when they were first reported by The Associated Press. She says in an affidavit that the former governor knocked her down and took her cellphone, wallet and keys from her during a 2018 argument at their home. The affidavit also claims Eric Greitens abused the couple’s 3-year-old son by “cuffing him across the face” and yanking him by the hair.

She also alleges her ex-husband threatened her and that guns had to be hidden from him because he was unstable.

Greitens, who is campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat and was considered by many to be the frontrunner before the news broke Monday, has denied the allegations.

"I stand by my sworn statements," Sheena Greitens said in a statement posted to her Twitter account. "I did not discuss the contents of my affidavit with anyone other than my counsel and, after the affidavit was filed, my immediate family. My only interest is what's best for my two children, and for the last four years, I have gone to great lengths to keep these family matters private to protect them."

Sheena Greitens now lives in Texas and is asking a Boone County court to allow her to move the case there.

The allegations led Republican and Democratic officials, including those running against him, to call for Eric Greitens to drop out of the crowded Senate race.

Eric Greitens resigned as Missouri governor in 2018 amid a sex scandal.