JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – "About a dozen" Republican lawmakers in the Missouri House of Representatives have signed a letter asking Gov. Eric Greitens to resign, according to Shamed Dogan.
Dogan, a Republican who represents District 98 in St. Louis County, and Marsha Haefner, a Republican who represents District 95 in South St. Louis County, announced the letter in a press release immediately following house leaders' announcement that they were launching an investigation into the governor's actions.
Dogan said the governor "appears to have lied to the people of Missouri when he said in January, that he had not taken a photo of a woman who was undressed, blindfolded and bound."
Dogan said he thinks the letter, which he said was signed by "about a dozen" Republican members of the State House of Representatives, is different from the letter circulated by Rep. Kevin Engler over the weekend. Engler is not one of the representatives signed onto the letter.
In the preceding press conference, House Speaker Todd Richardson announced the formation of a committee to investigate the governor. This committee would have subpoena power, meaning it can ask people to come in and testify. It is responsible for the investigation into Greiten's alleged invasion of privacy.
"This committees' task is going to be to investigate the facts," said Jay Barnes, a Republican representing District 60. He is the appointed leader of the investigative committee. "We're going to do so in a way that is fair, thorough, and timely and we're going to do it without any pre-ordained results," he said at a news conference Monday afternoon.
After what can be weeks of work, research, and testimony, the committee will make one of two decisions. It can say there is not enough evidence or information to move forward. Or, it can come back and say Greiten's actions do fall under an impeachable offense. Then, this committee of seven legislators would refer articles of impeachment to the full house of representatives. The entire House would then vote whether or not to move forward.
If the House votes yes, then the case will move over to the Senate. The Senate will be responsible for putting together a committee of judges to try the case.
The chairman of the committee will be Barnes, the vice chairman will be Don Phillips(R – District 138). They will start working on the investigation this week, Richardson said.
Other members include Republicans Don Phillips, Jeanie Lauer, Kevin Austin and Shawn Rhoads, as well as Democrats Gina Mitten and Tommie Pierson Jr.
The investigation comes after the indictment handed down last week, accusing the governor of invasion of privacy.
According to court documents, Greitens knowingly took a picture of a woman in a state of full or partial nudity without her knowledge or consent. He has been charged with a Class D felony. The penalty for 1st-degree invasion of privacy is up to four years in prison. Greitens has admitted to having an extra-marital affair but said he did not commit a crime and would not let these allegations deter him from doing his job.
Greitens was not in Jefferson City during the press conferences, he was touring tornado damage in Malden, Missouri.
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