Topline
The ex-wife of Missouri Senate candidate Eric Greitens (R) accused him of violent behavior in documents filed Monday in a child custody case, the Washington Post and Associated Press reported, allegations the candidate has denied—as Greitens seeks to rebuild his political career after he resigned as Missouri governor amid sexual misconduct claims.
In this May 17, 2018 file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens looks on before speaking at an event … [+]
Key Facts
Sheena Greitens accused her ex-husband of “unstable and coercive behavior,” and said he engaged in “physical violence toward our children,” including hitting their three-year-old son, according to the Post and the AP, which obtained an affidavit by Greitens filed in state court Monday.
Sheena Greitens also reportedly accused Eric Greitens of knocking her to the ground in mid-2018 and taking away her phone, keys and wallet “so that I was unable to call for help or extricate myself and our children from our home,” a move Eric Greitens allegedly told Sheena Gheitens’ mother was designed to stop her from derailing his career.
Sheena and Eric Greitens announced their divorce in April 2020, and Eric Greitens is seeking full custody of their children, his Senate campaign said in a statement to Forbes.
In a statement, Eric Greitens’ campaign called the allegations “completely false” and politically motivated, and claimed Sheena Greitens has a “documented history of mental illness and emotionally-abusive behavior” (Forbes has reached out to Sheena Greitens’ attorney for comment).
Key Background
Eric Greitens was sworn in as Missouri’s governor in 2017, and was widely seen as a Republican rising star. He ultimately led the state for less than two years, resigning in May 2018 following a series of allegations against him. Earlier that year, a local TV station reported Eric Greitens had an extramarital affair with a hairdresser and threatened to release nude photos of her—taken without her permission—if she publicized their relationship. Greitens was charged with felony invasion of privacy, but the case was dropped due to concerns a prosecutor could be called as a witness, and a special prosecutor later declined to refile the charges, citing insufficient evidence. An investigation into the issue by state legislators also included allegations of that Greitens coerced a woman into sex (Greitens admitted to having an extramarital affair, but he has fervently denied the blackmail allegations and said the relationship was consensual). Meanwhile, Greitens was charged with computer tampering in 2018, following allegations his campaign improperly took a donor list from a veterans’ charity he founded (the charge was later dropped). Despite his resignation, Greitens announced last year he will run for a Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blunt.
What To Watch For
Greitens will compete in the Republican Senate primary in August. He’s running against several other candidates, including Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R), who was endorsed by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). Following the new allegations against Greitens unveiled Monday, Hartzler called him “unfit to hold any public office.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2022/03/21/ex-wife-accuses-eric-greitens-missouri-senate-candidate-and-embattled-former-governor-of-abuse/