Missouri Governor Entangled in Sexual Scandal

Eric Greitens of Missouri faces a series of sexual allegations that he has completely dismissed as false and untrue, invoking anger and tension from within the Republican party.

Governor Eric Greitens of Missouri has been accused of many sexual harassment incidents and scandals. In a report released on Wednesday, he was alleged to blindfold and tie a woman to an exercise equipment, spank her and kiss her without her consent.

This report is released after a weeklong investigation conducted by the House committee. The investigation was a response to an extramarital affair that he allegedly committed before his first term as the Republican governor. There has been increasing bipartisan sentiments and appeals demanding him to step down, which is responded with his refusal to resign.

The Republican state attorney general, Josh Hawley, is among one of the adamant advocates for Mr. Greitens to step down. He described the findings of the report to be “certainly impeachable”.

Mr. Greitens, on the other hand, has regarded the report as “tabloid trash, gossip”, and denied the existence of any non-consensual sexual relationships or conducts. He has described him as a target of this “political witch hunt”, demanding it to end. He dismissed the validity of these allegations and claimed that “fake charges and falsehood aren’t going to stop us.”

The same committee that conducted the investigation will have the power to make the decision regarding Mr. Greitens’ political future. In order for him to be impeached, a majorityHouseouse members would have to agree to his impeachment, and the Senate would conduct a trial regarding this decision with seven judges.

This would have been a precedent since no other Missouri governor has ever been asked to resign or been impeached in the past.

The woman who is allegedly involved in these sexual misconducts and scandals is Mr. Greitens’ previous hairdresser. The report wrote that she went to his house upon his request and was forced to take part in these sexual acts without consent. It was quoted that she felt coerced into performing oral sex on Mr. Greitens, believing that it would be the only way to ensure her safety and security.

Many other Republicans have expressed their disgust towards this alleged behaviors. Representative Shamed Dogan has called this scandal as an “extremely disturbing and disgusting behavior” and asks Mr. Greitens to “[do] the right thing for the state of Missouri and [resign] because he’s shown he can’t be an effective leader, and he’s not doing that.”

The governor launched his career as an outsider, and his relationship with the Republican party has been in great strain since his election. Many republicans believed that this scandal would further damage the party’s chances in the upcoming midterm elections and his past behaviors, whether it was the extramarital affair or this sexual scandal, has brought embarrassment and anger onto the party itself.

The main strategy of Mr. Greitens’ defense team has been to weaken the woman’s credibility. This strategy, however, was received poorly. More ridiculously, his defense lawyers even quoted his former lover saying that she had dreamed of being taken a photography by Mr. Greitens. This quote, however, was dismissed as false and inaccurate as the woman’s lawyer responded to this claim with great anger, backing his client that she has been consistent in her words that he had unlawfully taken a photo of her without consent.

Mr. Greitens has remained adamant about his innocence from the scandals and believed that the trial would shed light on his credibility.