The state’s legislation started to consider impeachment of the governor.

Embattled Republican Missouri Governor Eric Greitens has resigned due to scandals over an affair and campaign finances. From the AP:

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has resigned amid criminal and legislative investigations stemming from an extramarital affair and campaign finance questions. The 44-year-old Rhodes Scholar and ex-Navy SEAL made the announcement Tuesday. The resignation takes effect Friday. A St. Louis grand jury indicted Greitens on Feb. 22 on one felony count of invasion of privacy. The charge was dismissed during jury selection, but a special prosecutor was considering whether to refile charges. Prosecutors say he took a compromising photo of a woman with whom he had an affair without her consent in 2015, before his election. The woman told a legislative committee Greitens restrained, slapped, shoved and threatened her during sexual encounters. The Missouri Legislature began meeting in special session less than two weeks ago to consider impeachment. Greitens has denied criminal wrongdoing.

In a statement, Greitens insisted that his resignation does “not end our fight” and that he “will always be a fighter for the people of Missouri,” but now it is time “to tend those who have been wounded.”

Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetum told the “secret group supporting Greitens, A New Missouri, has to turn over correspondence and documents showing potential coordination between the governor, his campaign committee and A New Missouri.”

Politico reported last month that incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) could win re-election against her opponent due to the scandals surrounding Greitens. However, polls at the time showed her likely Republican candidate Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley tied.

Also, as the scandals brewed into the open, Hawley took action against Greitens. He not only demanded the governor resign, but launched an investigation against him for allegedly “obtaining a charity donor list without permission.”

*This is a developing story.



