Embattled Missouri Governor says he will step down Friday
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens announced Tuesday he is stepping down effective at 5 p.m. Friday in the face of an impeachment effort, an adverse judicial ruling and multiple criminal investigations.
“The last few months have been incredibly difficult for me, for my family, for my team, for my friends, and many, many people that I love,” he said, saying he was the victim of “legal harassment.”
“I have not broken any laws or committed any offense worthy of this treatment,” he asserted. “I love Missouri and I love our people. That love remains.”
After the announcement, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat who had led the now-scuttled felony invasion of privacy case against the governor, said her office had reached a “fair and just resolution” with Greitens’ attorneys. Her spokeswoman later said the agreement was in regard to a second St. Louis charge, a felony data tampering case.
“I have been in contact with the governor’s defense team over the past several days,” she said in a statement. “We have reached a fair and just resolution of the pending charges. We will provide more information tomorrow.”
Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who was named special prosecutor after the charges related to his extramarital affair were dropped this month, said her investigation continues.
“In the interest of pursing justice to its fullest lengths, we will continue until our work on the case is completed,” Baker said in a statement. “Specifically regarding any deals we made with Governor Greitens’ attorneys, no deals were made by my office. Our review of this case, as I have stated before, will be pursued without fear or favor.”
Greitens’ surprise announcement came hours after a ruling by a Cole County judge forcing the governor’s campaign and a darkmoney group affiliated with Greitens to reveal fundraising information to a special House committee that was probing him.
Following the announcement, the committee canceled the remaining hearings on its schedule this week.
Greitens’ decision means that Lt. Gov. Mike Parson, also a Republican, will become governor.
Parson, 62, was not in the Capitol when Greitens announced his plan. His chief of staff, Ward Franz, was unsure if the farmer from Bolivar had spoken with Greitens before the announcement. Franz said a statement from Parson would be forthcoming.
“I think you’ll be pleased with him as governor,” Franz said.
Rumors spread Tuesday afternoon that Greitens had decided to resign. Allegations surrounding the governor led to an unprecedented split in Greitens’ Republican Party, leaders of which led efforts to impeach him.
Rep. Jay Barnes, a Jefferson City Republican who is leading the Missouri House investigation into Greitens, said after the announcement that he would not comment on Greitens’ resignation or whether the committee would continue its work.
Attorney General Josh Hawley, who is investigating Greitens and had called on him to resign, said Greitens did the “right thing” by resigning. Hawley, a Republican, is running to unseat U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who has barbed Hawley, saying he had enabled Greitens during his short tenure in office.