Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens has hired a new lawyer – former St. Louis Judge Jack Garvey – to represent him in the investigation underway by St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner.
Gardner is looking into whether Greitens broke any laws during his admitted extramarital affair, which took place in 2015, more than a year before the governor was elected.
Garvey, who also is a former St. Louis alderman, confirmed Sunday to St. Louis Public Radio that he now represented the governor. Garvey said he was hired “late last week.” Garvey said he was not representing any members of the governor’s staff, some of whom apparently have been subpoenaed by Gardner’s office.
Garvey declined to say whether he was an addition to the governor’s existing legal team, or if he was replacing one of the governor’s current lawyers.
Garvey also would not say who was paying him. Garvey retired as a judge in 2015.
Gardner is probing allegations that Greitens took a photo of the woman involved in the affair without her consent while she was nude or partially undressed, and threatened to release the photo if she went public with their involvement. Such actions could be considered blackmail and illegal.
The governor has denied breaking any laws, but has not said whether he took a photo of the woman. Gardner is investigating because the consensual affair took place in St. Louis, where Greitens and his wife were living at the time.
The woman has made no public comments about the affair. The allegations stem from a recording made by her then-husband without her knowledge or consent. The ex-husband released portions of the recording to some news outlets.
The affair has roiled the state Capitol, and the Missouri Republican Party, ever since Greitens confirmed the affair on January 10, the same day he delivered his State of the State address.
Several state lawmakers have said they have been questioned by Gardner’s staff on a variety of issues about Greitens.
The governor has rejected some bipartisan calls that he resign, saying that the affair was a private matter between him and his wife, Sheena Greitens. Both have issued statements saying their marriage is solid.
Neither Greitens nor his wife made any public comments about the affair during the state GOP’s annual Lincoln Days gathering, held two weeks ago in Kansas City.
