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U.S. NEWS Friday 4 May 2018

Missouri to hold session to

consider impeaching governor

By DAVID A. LIEB and BLAKE a panel of seven judges to ment stemming from his
NELSON conduct a trial on whether encounter with the wom-
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — to remove him from office. an. He is accused of taking
In a historic move, Missouri Senate President Pro Tem and transmitting a partially
lawmakers announced Ron Richard said he al- nude and unauthorized
Thursday that they are ready has had conversa- photo of the woman while
calling themselves into a tions with retired judges she was bound and blind-
special session to consider about the process for put- folded in the basement of
impeaching Gov. Eric Gre- ting together a trial panel. his home. Greitens has ac-
itens following allegations "We stand ready to do it if knowledged having a con-
of sexual misconduct and called upon," he said. sensual affair but has de-
misuse of charity resources. All of Missouri's top Repub- nied criminal wrongdoing.
Republican House and lican and Democratic leg- He also was charged April
Senate leaders said they islative leaders already 20 in St. Louis with a felony
had gathered more than had called on Greitens to charge of tampering with
the constitutionally re- resign, which he has de- computer data for alleg-
quired signatures of three- clined to do. edly disclosing The Mission
fourths of the members of "Pursuing impeachment Continues donor list to a
each chamber to summon against a Missouri governor political fundraiser in 2015
themselves into a special is history none of us wants without the permission of In this April 11, 2018, file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens
session that will start at 6:30 to make, but Eric Greitens' the St. Louis-based veter- speaks at a news conference about allegations related to his
p.m. on May 18 — just 30 actions have made it un- ans' charity that he had extramarital affair with his hairdresser, in Jefferson City, Mo.
minutes after the end of avoidable," said House Mi- founded.q Associated Press
work in their regular session. nority Leader Gail McCann
It will mark the first time in Beatty. A spokeswoman
Missouri history that law- for Republican Secretary
makers have called a spe- of State Jay Ashcroft con-
cial session. Extraordinary firmed the special session
sessions typically are called petition had been filed with
by governors. the office Thursday night.
"This was not a decision Only one other Missouri of-
made lightly and certainly ficial — former Democratic
not without great delibera- Secretary of State Judi Mo-
tion and effort," Missouri riarty in 1994 — has been
House Speaker Todd Rich- removed from office fol-
ardson said. He pledged a lowing impeachment.
"fair process that will not be The legislative announce-
rushed to conclusion." ment about a special ses-
The petition calls upon sion came a day after a
lawmakers to consider the House investigatory com-
upcoming recommenda- mittee released a report
tions of the House investi- indicating that Greitens
gatory committee on po- had misused a donor list
tential "disciplinary actions" from a veterans' charity he
against the first-term Re- founded to raise money
publican governor, which for his 2016 gubernatorial
also could include lesser campaign. The report in-
reprimands than impeach- cluded testimony from a
ment. former Greitens' aide indi-
The special session petition cating the campaign also
was signed by 138 of the falsely identified the source
current 161 House mem- of the donor list in a settle-
bers and 29 of the current ment with the Missouri Eth-
33 senators, Richardson ics Commission.
said. It was the second stunning
Convening a special ses- report from the House pan-
sion will allow the investiga- el. Last month, it released a
tory committee to continue report with testimony from
its work without worrying a woman alleging that
that it could be arbitrarily Greitens had restrained,
halted by the end of the slapped, shoved, threat-
regular session. ened and belittled her
According to the Missouri during a series of sexual
Constitution, the special encounters in 2015 that at
session can last no more times left her crying and
than 30 days. If the House afraid.
votes to impeach Greitens, Greitens faces a May 14
which requires 82 votes, the trial in St. Louis on a felony
Senate then would appoint invasion of privacy indict-