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Judge won’t dismiss felony case against Gov. Greitens, will allow alleged victim to testify

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(St. Louis, MO) A St. Louis judge on Monday decided on several motions crucial to Governor Eric Greitens’ felony invasion of privacy case.

Governor Eric Greitens Defense Attorney Ed Dowd

Two of the most significant rulings by Judge Rex Burlison was not to dismiss the case and to allow the alleged victim to testify.

The defense had argued the woman’s testimony has been tainted by the former lead investigator, William Don Tisaby, hired by the prosecution. The defense has accused Tisaby of repeatedly lying and withholding evidence.

Defense attorney Jim Martin said Tisaby has “molded” the testimony of the woman involved in the affair with the Governor.
“They moved her to statements that made her more and more like the victim,” Martin argued.

Burlison agreed with the prosecution’s argument that it should be up to a jury to decide whether the woman is credible.

During the hearing, Burlison also asked the prosecution if they had obtained the photo. Chief Trial Assistant Robert Dierker answered no and said the case rests on circumstantial evidence.

The defense had also renewed its request for a bench trial, citing that the Governor could not get a fair trial with all of the pre-trial publicity. Burlison said he would reconsider during jury selection if it becomes apparent that an impartial jury cannot be selected.  Jury selection is set to begin on Thursday.

Greitens is accused of taking a compromising photo of his former mistress and threatening to back mail her if she ever revealed the affair.

Greitens has admitted to the extramarital affair but has denied the allegations. His trial is scheduled for May 14th.

Jill Ender contributed this story

Southwest Missouri lawmaker discusses his refusal to sign special session petition

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State Rep. Bill White did not sign on the dotted line in support of calling a special session to consider impeaching Governor Eric Greitens. White, a fellow Republican from Joplin, tells Missourinet affiliate KZRG calling one is premature.

Photos courtesy of KZRG

“There’s no reason, now, for us to sign authorizing a special session. We can do that at any time. There’s a lot of pressure, in my opinion, going on here,” he says.

Despite White’s opposition, enough signatures have been gathered to begin a special session.

“There seems to be artificial deadlines out there that we must do it right now before the end of the session,” he says.

White is a senior member in the Missouri House and is serving his eighth and final year in that chamber.

The regular session will end on May 18. The special session will start 30 minutes after the regular session ends.

In the Missouri House, 138 members have signed the petition. In the Senate, 29 members support a special session.

Lawmakers will consider allegations that Greitens took and transmitted an unauthorized nude photo of his mistress in 2015 and misused charity resources to fund his political campaign.

Greitens denies any criminal accusations.

By Sarah Novotny of Missourinet affiliate KZRG in Joplin

Judge rules against cameras in courtroom during Missouri governor’s upcoming trial

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(This story is written by Missourinet St. Louis contributor Jill Enders)

ST. LOUIS- A St. Louis Circuit Judge issued a ruling Thursday morning against cameras in the courtroom for Missouri Governor Eric Greitens’ upcoming invasion of privacy trial.

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens delivers his 2018 State of the State Address in January (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications) 

Judge Rex Burlison ruled against media requests to allow cameras in the courtroom when Greitens goes on trial this month.

Judge Burlison says he based his ruling on security concerns and the fact that the woman with whom Greitens had an affair opposes video cameras in the courtroom.

However, the judge says he would consider allowing audio recording and still photos.

A St. Louis City grand jury indicted Greitens for felony invasion of privacy in February, for an alleged March 2015 incident. Greitens has admitted to an affair, but has denied wrongdoing.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin next week in Greitens’ trial in downtown St. Louis, and opening statements are scheduled to start on May 14.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Severe storms to sweep into Missouri Wednesday night (MAP)

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The National Weather Service warns that northwest Missouri will begin to see storms between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and severe weather begins in metro Kansas City between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Meteorologist Jenni Laughlin told Missourinet that the storms will threaten the entire state Thursday, with the threat of straight-line winds, heavy rain, damaging hail and possible flooding.

One-year anniversary for St. Louis County PDMP

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(This story is written by Missourinet St. Louis contributor Jill Enders)

CLAYTON- St. Louis County’s prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) is marking its one year anniversary.

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger (right) briefs reporters in Clayton on May 1, 2018. County Public Health Director Dr. Faisal Khan (left) and pharmacist Amy Teimeier (middle) join him (Jill Enders photo)

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger briefed reporters at a Tuesday morning press conference, saying the program has expanded to other jurisdictions.

“We started a county PDMP because Missouri was the only state without such a program,” says Stenger. “We invited others to join us and already 79 percent of the state’s population is covered by our PDMP.”

Stenger also provided the following data gathered from the first year of the County’s PDMP:

  • On average, 129,713 opioid prescriptions are dispensed to St. Louis County residents
    each month. These prescriptions account for an average of 3,125,266 opioid pills
    dispensed to St. Louis County residents monthly.
  • Approximately 21,000 controlled substances are dispensed daily from jurisdictions
    currently participating in the PDMP, and an average of 5,200 of those are dispensed daily
    in St. Louis County.
  • Hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol are the three most frequently prescribed opioids
    and comprise 85% of opioid prescriptions.
  • In the past year, the PDMP multiple provider episode alert has been generated for 13,974
    patients. The multiple provider episode alert generates when a patient has filled
    prescriptions written by 3 or more prescribers that are filled at 3 or more pharmacies
    within a 6 month period.

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger briefs reporters on May 1, 2018 (Jill Enders photo)

Stenger tells reporters these statistics prove the need for the PDMP.

“There are still too many people dying from abuse and overdoses,” County Executive Stenger says. But our prescription drug monitoring program is saving lives as part of a multi-faceted approach we are using to combat the opioid crisis in our community. County police and first responders have successfully used Narcan to reverse an overdose 146 times since 2016. The St. Louis County Public Health Department is also working with community partners to increase access to opioid treatment and recovery services.”

Last year, St. Louis County had 203 opioid related deaths.

Appeals court says attorney of ex-husband in Greitens case must answer questions about money trail

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The attorney representing the ex-husband in the Governor Greitens felony invasion of privacy case must answer more questions about the mysterious money trial.

Missouri’s Eastern District appeals court rejected Al Watkins’ attempt to override a St. Louis judge’s order that he answer questions under oath about two $50,000 cash payments delivered to his office in January.

There’s no word on whether or not Watkins will appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court.

On Friday, Judge Rex Burlison ordered that Watkins be deposed on the source of the $100,000 delivered to his Clayton law office to cover his client’s legal fees.

Greitens’ defense team had speculated then that the money may have come from a political operative.  Monday Greitens attorney Jim Martin announced in court that Missouri Times publisher Scott Faughn sent one of two $50,000 payments to Watkins.

Faughn responded to that claim through Twitter and Periscope yesterday evening, saying he retained Watkins as an attorney for a book he is writing about Greitens.

A special Missouri House committee investigating Greitens announced Monday evening that it would subpoena Faughn to appear before it.  The same committee subpoenaed Watkins last week.  He’s expected to testify in front of the panel this week.

The ex-husband who is represented by Watkins released a secret recording in January of a 2015 conversation he had with his then-estranged wife who is central to the Invasion of Privacy charge against Greitens.

In the recording, she describes Greitens taking a photo of her while she’s blindfolded in a state of partial nudity and then threatening to distribute the photo if she mentions their encounter. Greitens is accused of transmitting the nonconsensual image.

Greitens has admitted to having an affair with the woman but has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Missourinet St. Louis correspondent Jill Enders contributed this report

Attorney of ex-husband in Greitens felony invasion of privacy case to be deposed Monday

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The attorney representing the ex-husband in the Governor Greitens’ felony invasion of privacy case is scheduled to be questioned under oath on Monday.

This is one of a few victories of motions filed by the Governor’s defense team ahead of the May 14th trial.

On Friday, Judge Rex Burlison ordered that Attorney Al Watkins be deposed on the source of the $100,000 delivered to his Clayton law office to cover his client’s legal fees.

The defense has speculated the money may have come from a political operative. This comes after Burlison refused to allow the defense to question former Democratic Party Chairman Roy Temple about the money.

When he rejected a defense motion to dismiss the case more than a week ago, Judge Burlison ordered that several key witnesses be re-deposed.  Among them was the prosecution’s hired private investigator William Tisaby.

Meanwhile, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the woman who had the affair with Greitens must turn over her cell phone for a forensic investigation.

Missourinet St. Louis correspondent Jill Enders contributed this story

Report shows southwest Missouri county commission not in violation of misusing taxpayer funds

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.–The Missouri Ethics Commission releases its finding into whether the Greene County Commission misused taxpayer money to advocate for a half cents sales tax in November.

Greene County Presiding Commissioner Bob Cirtin

The report shows the commission did not misuse taxpayer money but says it committed a different violation.

It stems from a push card used to educate the public on what the tax was.

According to the Missouri Ethics Commission, that card misidentified who paid for its printing, therefore, the county committed a violation.

A press conference was held on Thursday at the historic courthouse where presiding commissioner, Bob Cirtin announced what the report revealed.

According to the Missouri Ethics Commission, the county was found not in violation of misusing taxpayer money to advocate for the tax- rather it was found in violation of incorrectly identifying who paid for push cards used to educate the public.

The push cards said “paid for by Greene County Sheriff’s Office” when the MEC says they were actually paid for by Greene County.

MEC says the push cards are supposed to say paid for by whoever actually paid to have them printed.

For this reason, the county must pay $100 to the Missouri Ethics Commission as part of a consent agreement.

During the press conference, presiding commissioner Bob Cirtin says the report proves that the case against the county is dismissed.

“Innocently accused that we know and I want you to embrace this innocently accused, keep that word dismissed in mind alright and now the county will have to pick up the bill,” says Cirtin.

However, the executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission, James Klahr says the report only dismisses individual commissioners by virtue of the county signing a consent order.

“It is a settlement with the county so yeh a settlement with the county and the individual officer holders are dismissed and they’re dismissed essentially by virtue of their signing to a consent agreement on behalf of the county,” says Klahr.

Cirtin says the MEC’s report is final and that no more action from the agency is expected.

He also hopes that the report will have a positive impact on the special prosecutor’s investigation into claims he misused taxpayer money.

As for who’s paying for the county’s attorney fees as it relates to the MEC investigation, Cirtin says taxpayers are paying for them including his own personal attorney fees since he says the report found no wrongdoing on his part.

Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV provided this story

Judge in Greitens felony case over mistress won’t depose Democratic operative

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During a hearing Thursday, a St. Louis judge denied a request to dispose of a witness in felony invasion of privacy case against Governor Eric Greitens.

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens – R (2018 file photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI)

Circuit Judge Rex Burlison rejected a request by the defense to allow for deposition from the state’s former Democratic Party Chairman, Roy Temple.

The defense wanted question Temple over whether he made payments to the ex-husband of the woman who had an affair with the Governor.

In a separate matter, former FBI agent William Don Tisaby appeared for his deposition but refused to answer questions, invoking the fifth amendment. Tisaby, who was hired as an investigator by the prosecution, has been accused of repeatedly lying by the defense.

Tisaby told the defense team he never took notes while conducting a January 29 interview with the woman Greitens was involved with.  The defense has since obtained footage of what appears to be Tisaby actually taking notes during that interview.  The prosecution has even made fun of the private investigator, on one occasion likening him to the bumbling Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther series.

Tisaby is being represented by attorney Jermaine Wooton, who served as the attorney for the family of a teen who was fatally shot by St. Louis police in 2015.

Missourinet’s St. Louis correspondent Jill Enders contributed this story

Branson Aldermen reject nearly $500 million water park that would use tax money

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BRANSON, Mo. — Last night city leaders in Branson rejected a nearly half-billion-dollar proposed water park resort, that taxpayers were asked to help finance.

Branson City Hall – Image courtesy of Missourinet affiliate KRZK

In a vote of five no’s and one yes, the Board of Alderman in Branson voted against the proposed “Branson Adventures” Tax Increment Funding plan. Emotions ran high on both sides. It started with the board wanting to move forward with the vote in spite of the fact that developer David Cushman was not there Tuesday night, because of an illness. Through an email and his son, who was present, Cushman requested that the vote would be postponed until May 22nd.

“Yesterday we asked for a postponement of the Branson Adventures TIF vote due to illness and respectfully request that this board grant that request and move this discussion and vote to the May 22nd meeting,” Cushman said before the board.

However, the majority of the board voted to move forward without Cushman.

“I mean, this was a posted agenda item, said Alderman Chris Bohinc, “And the house is full with the public and I want them to be able to speak on this agenda item. That’s what this was for tonight.”

Alderman Bill Skains was the only yes vote. He also voted against moving forward with the vote in Cushman’s absence.

“I think this meeting is unfair, Skains said, “I think that Dave should have been sitting on that front row. I thought his people should have been there. And as he got inviscerated by members of this group out here he should have had a chance to respond to it.”

Branson businessman, Bob Nichols agreed with Skains.

This project creates nine hundred jobs. And many of them are high-paying supervisory and managerial positions. Please vote yes.”

Chris Myers of Myer Hotels joined the majority who were against the plan.

“This project is not fair to the hundreds of businesses in this community that have taken the financial risk. It creates an unfair competitive landscape”

For now, the $446 million Branson Adventure project is off the table. However, developer David Cushman can come back at a later date, with a revised plan, if he chooses to do so.

Story provided by Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV