Photo courtesy of Kathie Conway’s Facebook page
State Reps. Kathie Conway, Marsha Haefner, and Steve Cookson have released strong words asking their fellow Republican, Governor Eric Greitens, to resign. Their move is in response to Greitens admitting to having an affair in 2015 with his haidresser. He has denied allegations made by his mistress that he blackmailed her to stay silent about their relationship. The accusations are being investigated by St. Louis Circuit Attorney and former State Rep. Kim Gardner.
Conway, from eastern Missouri’s St. Charles, tells the Missouri Times the governor has campaigned as an honorable man. She goes on to say the honorable thing to do is “step aside for the good of the state”.
“Today, he (Greitens) is facing a situation that puts him, his young family, and the ability of the State of Missouri to function normally, in peril. However, after taking the weekend to think, study the facts, and pray about it, the path forward is really becoming clear. With a heavy heart, I ask the Governor to consider resigning and allow the state to move forward with its work for our citizens,” says Conway.
“As a former criminal investigator for a prosecuting attorney, I have an idea of what could unfold in the coming weeks. There would be a long process that will be humiliating to everyone involved. There would be no privacy that can be realistically offered when the Governor of a state is under investigation. All the while, our state will continue to be embarrassed on the national stage,” she says.
Representative Marsha Haefner (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House of Representatives)
“While this affair involving the Governor was unfolding in the spring of 2015, the Missouri House was grappling over another elected official caught up in a scandal that did not come close to the accusations currently leveled against the Governor. That individual chose to resign his position. He chose this because of his dedication to his family, his state, and his friends and colleagues in government. He chose this course because he believed in taking responsibility for his actions. My heart was broken then. My heart was broken now,” says Conway.
“If Missouri Republicans want to say we honestly support family values, we must be prepared to take a stand and not allow these acts to be supported by our party,” says Conway. “It is easy to say we stand for family values. It is much harder today when we actually have to possibly put thought actions behind those words. Taking a quote from the Governor’s own book, Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life, ‘Knowing is usually the easy part. Doing is much harder.’”
A statement from Rep. Haefner of St. Louis opens up by quoting Maya Angelo:
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
Haefner goes on to say:
“When a man cheats on his wife, it’s a family matter. When the Governor of Missouri cheats, then allegations of victimizing his mistress, blackmail, bribes and his taxpayer funded employee involves herself in questioning the attorney for the accuser follow, it becomes a state matter. This is the situation we find ourselves in today. I find no pleasure in saying this, but I believe Governor Greitens is no longer fit to hold Missouri’s highest office,” says Haefner.
“Questions about the ethics of his conduct have plagued the Governor for over a year now. The “dark money” and an investigation for the possible breech of Sunshine Laws regarding the practice of destroying texts are troubling, at best. Now there is the criminal investigation in St Louis. He no longer has the trust and support of many in the legislature. We have to work as a team to accomplish what citizens expect us to do, but our leader is now ineffective. Missourians deserve better. There is too much at stake,” she says.
Representative Steve Cookson (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
“Eric Gretiens was elected Governor based on campaign promises of ethics, transparency, family values and ridding our state of “career, corrupt politicians” who stood in the way of moving Missouri forward. He’s attacked good people to elevate his status while taking credit for the work of others. And now we’re faced with this embarrassing situation. In a letter he wrote two years ago he stated it’s “our duty to kill the snakes”. As a public servant it’s my duty to ask for Governer Greitens to resign immediately and allow Missouri to move on, move forward and get back to work,” says Haefner.
Statement from Cookson of southeast Missouri’s Poplar Bluff:
“I want to thank Eric Greitens for his service to the nation and the State of Missouri, and specifically for appointing me to the Organ Donor Task Force. However, after the events of last week including the victim confirming that it was in fact her voice on the tape that aired Wednesday night. I want to appeal to his sense of CHARACTER, and any regard he may have for the good folks of the State of Missouri, I’m calling for him to step down and resign as Governor of the State of Missouri so that the work on the many issues he has expressed concern for can resume without these distractions. May God continue to bless Eric and his family and all the families involved, and may God bless the Great State of Missouri,” says Cookson.
Missourinet has requested a response from Greitens’ personal attorney, Jim Bennett.
