After fresh allegations of misconduct, Missouri Republicans call on Greitens to drop out

Eric Greitens, Missouri’s former governor, is once again entangled in scandal after allegations of spousal and child abuse surfaced Monday.

In a sworn affidavit, part of an ongoing custody battle, Dr. Sheena Greitens wrote she feared for her safety and that of her children, the Associated Press reported.

“Prior to our divorce, during an argument in late April 2018, Eric knocked me down and confiscated my cell phone, wallet and keys so that I was unable to call for help or extricate myself and our children from our home,” Sheena Greitens wrote.

She said her ex-husband, who currently leads the Republican field in the race for Missouri’s open Senate seat, was physical with their children. His behavior included “cuffing our then-3-year-old son across the face at the dinner table in front of me and yanking him around by his hair.”

And at one point, Eric Greitens became angry with Sheena Greitens when she tried to fly with the children to her parents’ house, the AP reported.

In her affidavit, Sheena Greitens said the former governor threatened to come to the airport and have her “arrested for kidnapping and child abuse, saying that because of his authority as a former governor who had supported law enforcement, the police would support him and not believe me.”

He threatened to use that same power to get Sheena Greitens’ job offer from the University of Texas revoked. She is currently an associate professor in the university’s School of Public Affairs, according to her university faculty page.

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, also a contender in the Republican primary, noted Greitens’ misuse of his power as governor in a video published to her verified Facebook account calling for an end to his campaign. “It’s time for Eric to get out of this Senate race and to get professional help,” Hartzler said.

Mo. Attorney General Eric Schmitt – Eric Greitens’ closest contender according to Trafalgar Group’s February poll – tweeted, “These allegations of abuse are disgusting and sickening. As Missouri’s attorney general I know a predator when I see one.”

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who endorses Hartzler in the race, tweeted, “If you hit a woman or a child, you belong in handcuffs, not the United States Senate. It’s time for Eric Greitens to leave this race.”

But U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-MO) reportedly declined to call on Eric Greitens to step down from the race Kansas City Star reporter Daniel Desrochers tweeted. “I plan to support the Republican nominee, which is going to be Billy Long.”

As previously reported by Heartland Signal, Long called Eric Greitens “Snidely Whiplash” earlier this month, in a reference to the scandal that forced Eric Greitens to resign as governor in 2018.

Long told Kansas City conservative radio host Pete Mundo at the time that if Eric Greitens wins the nomination, “I’m going to back him. I’m going to support anyone in the race.”

On Monday afternoon, Eric Greitens took to Twitter and talk shows in an attempt to save his campaign.

In a tweeted statement, the former governor said he was seeking full custody of his sons and “will continue to pray for their mother and hope that she gets the help that she needs.” He accused “political operatives and the liberal media” of “peddling lies.”

On Steve Bannon’s War Room, Eric Greitens said his wife had been in Washington, D.C. last week and “as early as [Tuesday] morning, you’re going to see a story break with details about the political operatives who are behind this.”

“You’re going to be able to connect the dots directly to Mitch McConnell,” Greitens said. As of press time, no story about a Republican smear campaign against the former governor has emerged.