Greitens Races Investigation, Wants April 3 Trial Date

ST. LOUIS, MO — The Associated Press reports Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens will ask a judge to accelerate his criminal trial to April 3. It Had been set for May 14, and prosecutors had asked for even longer, requesting an additional six months to conclude their investigation, which was rushed to beat the state's statute for limitations for invasion of privacy.

Greitens also asked for a bench trial before a judge instead of a jury, citing the case's high publicity. The circuit attorney's office opposes both moves.

Prosecutors said earlier this month they do not have the compromising photo the Republican governor allegedly took of a woman without her permission in 2015. But, they told a judge, they plan to get it. They did not say how.

It's not clear how much of the case against Greitens rests on prosecutors obtaining the photo. A grand jury in St. Louis indicted the Missouri governor in February on one count of felony invasion of privacy for taking a non-consensual nude photo and transferring it to a computer. Some of the governor's staffers have been subpoenaed in the probe and the ex-husband of the woman involved in the affair with Greitens has also been called to testify.

The governor has admitted the affair, calling it a "deeply personal mistake" in a joint statement with his wife in January. He denied trying to blackmail his mistress, though he has not denied taking the photo and the governor's lawyers have argued any photo he took was consensual. In court this month, however, the governor's lawyers seemed to shift their defense, arguing the photo may not exist at all.

The governor blamed a "reckless liberal prosecutor" for the case against him, accusing St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner of using her office to score political points. His defense seems to be trying to race prosecutors to the courtroom before their investigation is complete.

The governor's lawyers have filed two motions to dismiss the case, accusing prosecutors of misleading the grand jury, although they didn't explain how. The first motion failed and a spokesperson for the prosecution called it "patently without merit."

Criticism of the governor has been sharply bipartisan.

At a press conference February 26, House members announced the formation of an investigatory committee, the first step in a process that could lead to impeachment. Afterward, a group of about a dozen Republican House members released a letter calling on the governor to resign.

"I cannot see how he could effectively perform the duties of his office, let alone to lead with the kind of moral authority needed to make a positive impact," said Kansas City Republican Sen. Kevin Corlew.

Likewise, Democratic state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, who represents St. Louis, said Greitens has to go. "Missourians thought they voted for a person of character and integrity, and instead they got a liar and alleged criminal."

Greitens said he has no plans to step down.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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