Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens promised supporters that he’d continue to fight for conservative policies in a Saturday speech that came on the heels of his second felony charge.
“We have been viciously attacked by the liberal media and their allies,” Greitens told a crowd at the Texas County Lincoln Day dinner, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Though the audience appeared receptive, Greitens’ ability to lead the state is in serious jeopardy as the scandals swirling around him continue to metastasize.
The governor was charged Friday evening with felony computer tampering, for allegedly using a donor list from the veterans’ charity he founded to raise funds for his 2016 gubernatorial campaign. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office, which brought that charge, is already pursuing a separate felony charge against Greitens for allegedly taking a nonconsensual nude photo of a woman and threatening to leak it.
As the twin scandals have played out in recent months, the governor has remained defiant, insisting he only engaged in an affair with the woman and committed no crime. In a Friday night statement, he also defended his work with the veterans’ charity.
“We helped thousands of veterans, won national awards for excellence, and became one of the finest veterans’ charities in the country,” Greitens said. “I stand by that work.”
Legislative leaders and Attorney General Josh Hawley, all Republicans, have called for Greitens to resign immediately. Republican Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard announced that he’s even planning discussions with Democratic leadership about keeping pieces of legislation passed by both chambers off the governor’s desk. Minority Floor Leader Gina Walsh has cast Greitens as an illegitimate leader, saying she doesn’t believe bills he signs should become law, according to the Associated Press.
