They also allege that Brunner's comments left the false impression with the public that Goguen has been criminally charged. The woman made her allegations in a breach-of-contract civil suit that she is pursuing against Goguen, but there have been no criminal charges.

“John Brunner has dragged Plaintiff Michael Goguen’s name and reputation through the mud in a transparent effort to score political points in his campaign for the Republican nomination for Governor of Missouri,” alleges Goguen's suit, filed Tuesday in St. Charles Circuit Court.

“Mr. Brunner has knowingly and maliciously spread demonstrable lies about Mr. Goguen, falsely accused him of heinous acts and crimes, and defamed him simply because he donated money to one of Mr. Brunner’s political opponents.”

Brunner didn't use Goguen's name when he made his "sex slave" comment — though Goguen is the only donor who has given Greitens $1 million, and the sex-abuse suit against him had been widely reported. "[T]he statement by Mr. Brunner was understood by the audience and reported in the media to specifically relate to Mr. Goguen," states Goguen's suit.