Greitens Invasion Of Privacy Charges Dropped

ST. LOUIS, MO — Prosecutors in St. Louis have dropped invasion of privacy charges against Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, saying the case would be better handled by a special prosecutor. A spokesperson for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner said the state will refile the case, but did not say when.

The governor's trial had been scheduled to begin today, but opening arguments were delayed as jury selection continued into a third day.

Greitens was indicted in February after his former hair dresser accused him of taking a non-consensual, partially-naked photo and using it to blackmail her. Greitens pleaded not guilty and — though he admitted to having an affair with his accuser — he has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Greitens has also been accused of lying about campaign filings and violating campaign finance law related to his use of a charity donor list to raise money for his run for governor. He was indicted on those charges in April, but no trial date has been set.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called on the governor to resign and the General Assembly has scheduled a special session to begin Friday to consider the governor's impeachment. It's not clear whether the charges being dismissed will impact those discussions. Many lawmakers have maintained their investigation is a separate matter from the criminal proceedings, but others had been awaiting the results of the trial to plant their political flags.

Prosecutors had initially requested an additional six months to conclude their investigation, which was rushed to beat Missouri's statute of limitations on invasion of privacy, but a judge denied that request. Without the alleged illicit photo in their possession, the prosecution was likely to have a difficult case ahead of them. It's not clear how the statute of limitations will impact prosecutors' desire to refile charges.

Prosecutors also admitted to missteps by private investigator William Tisaby that have jeopardized the case.

"We are saddled with the egregious mistake of relying on [Tisaby]," said prosecutor Robert Dierker earlier this month, comparing the investigator to the fictional Inspector Clouseau, an inept French detective played by Peter Sellers in the film "The Pink Panther."

Greitens' defense team have accused Tisaby of perjury, and Circuit Judge Rex Burlison ruled today that Gardner could be called as a witness during the trial related to her knowledge of Tisaby's conduct. That ruling, Gardner's office said in a statement, placed her in the "impossible position of being a witness, subject to cross-examination" in the same trial she would be prosecuting.

The charges were dropped shortly after Burlison's ruling.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

Image: Greitens' mugshot via St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department