A trial date of May 14 has been set for Missouri Gov.
A trial date of May 14 has been set for Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (R), who is facing accusations that he threatened to release a nude photo he took, without permission, of a woman he was having an affair with if the woman did not remain silent.
Greitens was indicted last week by a St. Louis grand jury with one felony count of invasion of privacy. He has admitted to having the affair but denies the felony charge against him, which he says is politically motivated, according to local news station Fox 2.
Lawyers for Greitens argued in court Wednesday that the incriminating photo “does not exist,” while prosecutors contend that it does and that they will have it soon, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
“We do not have it in our possession at this time,” prosecutors told the judge. The May trial date appears to be a victory for Greitens, as Fox 2 reports prosecutors were hoping to push the governor’s trial to the fall.
“I’m assuming that whatever investigation is still going on is not going to affect this case,” Circuit Judge Rex Burlison said Wednesday, adding that any further charges would likely be filed as a separate case.
The Democratic Governors’ Association (DGA) has called for Greitens’s resignation over the scandal, while lawmakers in the state legislature have begun an investigation into his conduct.
“The charges against Eric Greitens are deeply disturbing and prove he is unfit to hold public office,” DGA executive director Elisabeth Pearson said in a statement last week.
“Following today’s indictment, Governor Greitens should step down immediately. The people of Missouri deserve a governor who can focus full-time on the issues affecting the state,” the statement continued.
Greitens’s attorney issued a statement welcoming the state investigation last week, promising to work with a special committee appointed to investigate the affair.
“We welcome reviewing this issue with the independent, bipartisan committee of the Missouri House of Representatives,” the governor’s attorney said. “We will work with the committee. We will be deposing witnesses and will be happy to share information with you with the court’s permission.”
