Prosecutor dropping computer tampering case against Greitens

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. » One of two criminal cases against Missouri Gov Eric Greitens will be dismissed, now that the Republican governor has announced his resignation, St. Louis’ top prosecutor said Wednesday.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced that her office has reached a deal to dismiss a felony charge of computer data tampering. A day earlier, Greitens made the stunning announcement that he would step down from office effective Friday, citing “legal harassment.”

“I remain confident we have the evidence required to pursue charges against Mr. Greitens, but sometimes pursuing charges is not the right thing to do for our city or our state,” Gardner said.

The charge, filed in April following an investigation by the Missouri attorney general’s office, accused Greitens of using a donor list from the veterans charity he founded, The Mission Accomplished, for his 2016 gubernatorial campaign. Greitens also was indicted on felony invasion of privacy in February in St. Louis for allegedly taking an unauthorized and compromising photo of a woman during an extramarital affair in 2015, before he was elected. The charge was dropped earlier this month, but Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker was appointed special prosecutor to consider whether to refile it.

Baker said in a statement Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing and will continue “until our work on the case is completed.” She said no deals have been made by her office with Greitens’ attorneys.

Greitens, a former Navy SEAL officer, suggested less than two weeks ago that he would never quit fighting the allegations against him, even as the Legislature met in special session to consider impeachment.

So it was stunning when he announced he was quitting with his mission incomplete.

“The time has come, though, to tend to those who have been wounded and to care for those who need us most,” said Greitens, his voice cracking while his team members struggled to hold back tears. “So for the moment, let us walk off the battlefield with our heads held high.”

Greitens’ departure will become official at 5 p.m. Friday — marking a stunning political defeat for the 44-year-old, self-made warrior-philosopher who had aspirations of someday becoming president.

JULIE SMITH/THE JEFFERSON CITY Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens leaves the podium after announcing his resignation at a news conference, Tuesday, at the state Capitol, in Jefferson City, Mo. Greitens resigned amid a widening investigation that arose from an affair with his former...