Invasion of privacy charge dropped against Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens

A felony invasion of privacy charge against Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (R) was dropped on Monday after a judge ruled that St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who had been prosecuting the case, could be called as a witness.

Gardner's office said the order leaves her with "no adequate means of proceeding with this trial," but prosecutors announced they will either name a special prosecutor or have one of Gardner's assistants refile the charge. Gardner's office also said that Greitens' lawyers named her as a possible defense witness in order to "distract people from the defendant's actions."


The dropped charge was in connection with Greitens allegedly taking a photo of a woman he was having an affair with while she was bound and blindfolded, and he still faces another charge of felony computer tampering stemming from his campaign's alleged use of a charity donor list, CNN reports. Greitens says he is innocent and the victim of a "political witch hunt."

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Several top Republicans in the state have joined Democrats in calling on Greitens to step down, and a Missouri House committee said it is continuing its investigation into his campaign. On Friday, leaders of the Missouri House and Senate will meet at the start of a special legislative session to consider impeaching Greitens.