Whether or not you’re from Missouri, you’ve probably seen the news about Eric Greitens, the recently elected Republican governor. He once served honorably as a Navy SEAL, but is now deeply mired in allegations of infidelity, blackmail, and sexual abuse.
Guilt has yet to be established, but his indictment and upcoming trial (or trials) have already rendered him unable to perform the duties of a governor. What’s more, there’s already abundant evidence of his moral turpitude and dishonesty.
The fact that Greitens cheated on his wife with the wife of another man speaks volumes on its own. The additional allegations are even more grave. He is accused of telling his illicit lover that he had nude photographs of her that he would release if she went public with their affair. That would amount to blackmail. And last month, his former lover added allegations of physical and sexual assault.
Missouri’s legislature, in which Republicans have veto-proof majorities in both chambers, has thankfully not shied away from its duty to take these charges seriously. They opened a special investigative committee, which last month released a report finding the woman’s testimony to be credible. They have also debunked assertions by Greitens’ legal team that his accuser has made contradictory claims.
Greitens has lost the trust of everyone, including his fellow Republicans, in the Show-Me State. The required three-fourths majorities in both chambers of the legislature have now signed petitions calling for an impeachment session that will begin next Friday. His chances of survival in office appear slim.
Rather than go through with this, he should resign and leave with what little dignity he can. Unfortunately, he has chosen to go down swinging at anyone nearby, exacting as much revenge as possible.
In retribution for his fellow Republicans’ commitment to honesty and integrity in government, Greitens has deliberately done something that he at least thinks will disadvantage his party in the coming 2018 election. As governor, he had the option of moving three popular left-wing ballot measures — on marijuana legalization, redistricting, and minimum wage — to the August primary ballot. Instead, he has chosen to leave them on the November ballot, potentially helping Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., get out the vote.
But what Republicans are doing now is worth the price of this betrayal, and Greitens’ spiteful behavior only proves it.
First, the boost that these ballot measures will supposedly give Democrats is more theoretical than real, and probably imaginary.
Voters in neighboring Arkansas, for example, went overwhelmingly (66 percent) for a minimum wage increase in 2014, even as they overwhelmingly ousted their Democratic senator and handed Republicans a clean sweep of all the state’s constitutional offices.
Likewise, voters in Florida voted (63 percent) to reform redistricting in 2010, even as Republicans won a clean sweep of statewide offices and gained four of the state’s U.S. House seats.
Finally, although there is no stinging counterexample when it comes to marijuana ballot referenda, there is no evidence to suggest that they actually help Democrats, and plenty of data that should make you skeptical.
Of course, even if we assume that Greitens is trying to save McCaskill out of spite, it still says everything you need to know that he would make and carry out such petty threats just to save his own skin, or even just to wound those putting a rightful end to his sordid career. It confirms that he’s the wrong kind of person to trust with public office and the right kind to impeach. Missouri Republicans are doing the right thing despite the temptations of party loyalty. We encourage them not to shy away from their duty when the time comes.
