ST. LOUIS – The political fallout continues for Missouri Governor Eric Greitens after he was indicted Thursday on a felony invasion of privacy charge.
The charge comes just weeks after he admitted to having an extra-marital affair back in 2015.
Now, several Republican lawmakers have come forward calling on Greitens to resign.
Republican Representative Kevin Engler said a letter is circulating among GOP House members calling on him to step down.
“The governor has the right to defend himself in court but we’d like him to resign,” said Engler.
Republicans are slated to discuss possible impeachment proceedings over the weekend and formalize a plan on Monday when House Republicans are scheduled to caucus.
If the House decides to move forward with impeachment proceedings, it will then be brought to the full House for a vote.
If the House impeaches him, then a special commission will be chosen by the Senate to hear the case.
While members of Greitens’ own party are on the fence about his future as governor, the Missouri GOP is standing by him.
In a statement, they said Missourians should see this for what it is, a political hit job.
“We have a progressive anti-law enforcement Democrat wanting to single-handedly oust a law-and-order governor.”
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office, which brought on the indictment, fired back in a statement:
“These personal attacks, while disappointing, will not distract her from her duty to serve justice and the citizens of this community. [Kim] Gardner has confidence in the law and the justice system to bring this matter to a fair and just resolution. Both the Governor and the victim deserve their day in court.”
These allegations came into light after the woman's ex-husband came forward about the affair.
Greitens is accused of taking a nude photo of the victim without her consent.
But the indictment does not involve blackmail charges.
Attorney Al Watkins, who represents the ex-husband said, “It has a unique wording. It has elements which are not difficult to prove up and given the totality of the circumstances, it is certainly not my place to question, gage, or assess the appropriateness or inappropriateness of the charge that was ultimately brought.”
