Report: Missouri Gov. Initiated Unwanted Sexual Encounters

Panel is looking into impeachment
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 12, 2018 2:27 AM CDT
Report: Missouri Gov. Initiated Unwanted Sexual Encounter
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens speaks at a news conference about allegations related to his extramarital affair with his hairdresser, in Jefferson City, Mo., Wednesday, April 11, 2018.   (Julie Smith/The Jefferson City News-Tribune via AP)

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens initiated a physically aggressive unwanted sexual encounter with his hairdresser and threatened to distribute a partially nude photo of her if she spoke about it, according to testimony from the woman released Wednesday by a House investigatory committee. The graphic report details multiple instances in which the woman said Greitens spanked, slapped, grabbed, shoved, and called her derogatory names during a series of sexual encounters as the Republican was preparing to run for office in 2015. The testimony contradicts Greitens' previous assertions that "there was no violence" and "no threat of violence" in what he has described as a consensual extramarital affair, the AP reports.

The report, signed by all five Republicans and two Democrats on the committee, describes the woman's testimony as credible and notes that Greitens has so far declined to testify. The committee is expanding its mission to recommend whether lawmakers should begin impeachment proceedings. Greitens is vowing to remain in office and prove his innocence against allegations that he calls "lies and falsehoods." He is to go to trial May 14 in St. Louis on a felony indictment of invasion of privacy for allegedly taking and transmitting a nonconsensual photo of the woman while she was partially nude. The woman told the committee that Greitens took the photo after manipulating her into a compromising position during an unwanted sexual encounter and that he told her "everyone will know what a little whore you are" if she told anyone about him.

(More Eric Greitens stories.)

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