We’ve been reporting on the US Senate race in Missouri. Following Roy Blunt’s announcement that he would not be seeking another term, multiple candidates announced their bid for the seat, including former Governor Eric Greitens, current Attorney General Eric Schmitt, US Representative Vicky Hartzler, and US Representative Billy Long.
Early polling suggests Greitens has an advantage, but a Trafalgar Group poll showed Greitens did the worst when it came to head-to-head matches with top Democrat candidates. It is possible that this is because Greitens has a lot of baggage. This was after his 2018 resignation due to scandal/controversy, including criminal charges, involving his affair with his hairdresser, and claims that Greitens photographed his wife in an undress state and threatened to publish those photos if she exposed the affair. The Democrats’ push to elect Greitens in the primary is also explained by this. They are trying to destroy the Republican chance of holding the seat.
The news about Greitens being accused of domestic abuse was reported on Monday. It stemmed from an affidavit that Greitens’ ex-wife Sheena Chestnut Greitens filed in connection to the pending custody litigation. The Associated Press reports:
Sheena Greitens identifies her ex husband as someone who threatened to ruin her reputation in order to gain custody.
“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 in the filing. “I became afraid for my safety and that of our children at our home,” later adding that his “behavior included physical violence toward our children, such as 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.”
Following the revelation, the other candidates vying for the nomination each issued statements regarding the allegations — and none of them pulled their punches.
Vicky Hartzler was suspended by Twitter due to her daring challenge to the narrative concerning transgender athletes. Vicky took to Facebook and uploaded this video calling on Greitens not to be part of this race.
“Real men never abuse women and children. Period — end of story. It’s time for Eric to get out of the Senate race and to get professional help,” Hartzler said.
The Springfield News-Leader
Hartzler was the Republican candidate’s only woman. She released an early ad pointing to previous allegations against him, saying “when I see a hairdresser, I make an appointment.” After officially filing for election in February, she told reporters she wouldn’t vote for Greitens if he won the Republican nomination.
Missouri’s Attorney General, Eric Schmitt, also a top contender for the seat, went a step further, asserting that Greitens belonged in prison, not a U.S. Senate race:
Eric Greitens should be behind bars for the behavior described in his affidavit, and not on the U.S. Senate ballot. His campaign should be ended immediately. 2/2 #MOSen
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) March 21, 2022
The revelations were also condemned by Congressman Billy Long, who called on Greitens’ to resign.
As most Americans, I was shocked and disgusted by Sheena Greitens sworn statement about Eric Greitens. His qualifications are clearly not suitable to serve the Missouri state in the United States Senate. There’s no way he can stay in this race.
— Billy Long (@auctnr1) March 21, 2022
Two other candidates, Missouri Senate President Pro-Tem Dave Schatz and Mark McCloskey also weighed in:
Schatz also called on Greitens to “end his campaign immediately,” saying that the allegations show “a long pattern of abuse against his wife and children.” McCloskey said in a statement that “clearly Eric deserves to be in jail more than helping to lead our country.”
Although they will be trying to make a name for themselves as they compete for the GOP nomination in the months ahead, the majority of the candidates are on the same page (except Greitens).
But it isn’t just his would-be opponents who’ve reacted strongly to news of the allegations. Josh Hawley, who’ll soon be the senior Senator from Missouri and will be serving with whoever wins the seat come November, had this to say:
Handcuffs are the best place to be if you’re hitting a child or woman. It’s time for Eric Greitens to leave this race https://t.co/RgCow67dDW
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 21, 2022
Greitens of course denies these allegations. They are only allegations at the moment, but allegations that were contained in a signed affidavit. He suggests instead that Sheena Grietens, who is an associate professor at Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs of the University of Texas at Austin, has mental illness.
Eric Greitens has now released statements calling her ‘deranged’ and saying:
“I will continue to love and care for my beautiful sons with all of my being, and that includes fighting for the truth and against completely fabricated, baseless allegations. I am seeking full custody of my sons, and for their sake, I will continue to pray for their mother and hope that she gets the help that she needs…Sadly, political operatives and the liberal media peddle in lies. However, I have faith, and I know that ultimately truth will always prevail.”
Further, Greitens contends that his ex-wife’s allegations are connected to Mitch McConnell, stemming from his vow to vote against McConnell as leader should he win the seat.
Greitens as Congressman Long seem to agree on this point:
Although it was distasteful and ineligible, Greiten had a point. He won’t vote for him. @LeaderMcConnell #MOSen
— Billy Long (@auctnr1) March 21, 2022
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