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Special prosecutor assigned to investigate Missouri governor

By Sara Shayanian
A special prosecutor has been appointed to look into accusations of invasion of privacy involving Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
A special prosecutor has been appointed to look into accusations of invasion of privacy involving Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

May 22 (UPI) -- A special prosecutor has been appointed to the invasion of privacy case involving Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, who's facing growing calls to step down.

Judge Rex Burlison restricted the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office from investigating the felony case and appointed Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker Monday.

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Baker said in a statement she's assembled a team of prosecutors and staff to review the matter.

"No elected official relishes involvement in such difficult matters as an investigation of criminal wrongdoing by another official, but we also understand our duty," Baker said.

Invasion of privacy charges against Greitens were dropped last week when a judge ruled the city's lead prosecutor, Kim Gardner, could be called as a witness in the case.

Baker will now determine whether to refile the felony charges. Her team can also consider "other incidents involving the same victim" that occurred in 2015.

The charges stem from an extramarital affair between Greitens and a woman, in which prosecutors say he took partially nude photos of her while she was tied up. The allegations led to a special investigation by the Missouri legislature, which called the woman's testimony "disturbing."

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The woman at the center of the affair with Greitens, known only as "K.S.," said Monday she wants "to move on" from the "most difficult, crazy fight."

"I feel like I'm this easy punching bag, yet I haven't thrown any punches," she added in her first public remarks, made in an interview with KSDK-TV anchor Casey Nolen.

The woman, who'd been Greitens' hairdresser, said she never wanted the affair to become public, but was forced to cooperate once her husband shared a recording of her describing the incidents.

"I didn't dream it up," she said, referring to accusations from Greitens' attorneys calling her testimony to lawmakers "dreams or visions."

Grietens also faces a felony charge for computer tampering, as he's accused of misusing a charity he co-founded.

Greitens has refused to resign despite pressure from state leaders to step down.

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