Eric Greitens’ Maverick Style Has Left Him Few Allies In Sex Scandal
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens campaigned with a style similar to President Donald Trump: he promised not to play insider politics and focus on saving Missouri as much money as possible.
But as soon as he came into the office in January 2017, Greitens began penny-pinching and mounting political attacks on rivals in a way that distanced himself from other legislators. Now, Greitens is mired in a sex scandal — and his combative style has left him few allies, the New York Times reported.
Greitens became mired in scandal last week after he admitted to having an affair in 2015. Greitens made the announcement after a recording emerged of his former mistress saying that he took a picture of her blindfolded and half-naked as a form of blackmail. Greitens has denied threatening to release the photo if she ever disclosed their relationship.
“When you don’t foster relationships with the legislators that you’re serving with and when you don’t foster relationships with the press who cover the state capital on a daily basis, that all can be just fine,” said John Hancock, one-time chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. “But when you then face a crisis, there’s no cavalry running to your defense.”
Greitens has been making a flurry of calls to donors and political leaders in Missouri, hoping to find new allies. Many are still weary of Greitens after his smug campaign style and personal insults lobbed at political rivals.
Democrats in Missouri have called for the governor’s resignation. His lawyer said he has no such plans.
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!