Missouri GOV Who Resigned Over Alleged Sexual Assaults Mulls Senate Run

By Daniel Strauss, Guardian UK

16 March 21

Republicans concerned that Eric Greitens’ candidacy could tip one of the state’s two seats to the Democrats

he former Missouri governor Eric Greitens, a Republican who stepped down amid allegations of sexual assault, is reportedly considering a run for US Senate next year – prompting concern among Republicans that his candidacy could tip one of the state’s two seats to the Democrats.

The race will be for the seat vacated by Roy Blunt, a long-serving Republican who announced his retirement this month. Democrats now control a 50-50 Senate via the casting vote of Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Greitens, a former Navy Seal, resigned as governor in 2018, less than two years into his first term, over allegations of sexual assault.

A woman with whom he admitted having an extra-marital affair told a Missouri house investigative committee Greitens restrained, slapped, shoved and threatened her during a series of sexual encounters that at times left her crying and afraid. He was alleged to have taken a compromising photo and threatened to blackmail the woman.

Greitens said the allegations amounted to a “political witch-hunt” but eventually bowed to Republicans and Democrats who called for his resignation. His departure elevated Republican Mike Parson, the lieutenant governor, to the governor’s office.

On Monday, Politico reported that Republicans who have fielded calls from Greitens about the Senate race are worried that if he does run the state could see a repeat of 2012, when their candidate, Todd Akin, lost an election in the midst of controversy over his extreme views on abortion.

Politico reported that Republican party leaders were considering “aggressive steps to stop Greitens from winning the nomination, including waging a slashing advertising campaign against them”.

The field is still forming for both the Republican and Democratic primaries. Some well known Missouri figures, like the Democratic former secretary of state Jason Kander, have decided not to jump into the Senate race.

Missouri’s other Senate seat is held by Josh Hawley, a hard-right conservative who backed Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn election defeat by Joe Biden and was famously photographed raising a fist towards Trump supporters at the Capitol on 6 January, when a mob stormed Congress.

Hawley, a former state attorney general, beat Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, in 2018.