Judge Rules Woman’s Testimony Admissible in Greitens Case

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The Latest on the investigation of Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (all times local):
1:45 p.m.

A St. Louis judge plans to begin jury selection on Thursday as planned in Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens' felony invasion of privacy trial.

Greitens' attorneys argue that pretrial publicity makes it impossible for him to get a fair trial by jury and asked Circuit Judge Rex Burlison to hold a bench trial. Burlison had previously ruled against a request for a bench trial in the case.

Burlison said Monday that he will begin jury selection and reconsider if it becomes apparent that an impartial jury cannot be seated.

The Republican governor is accused of taking an unauthorized photo of a woman while she was partially nude during a sexual encounter in 2015, before he was elected.

Greitens also faces another felony charge in St. Louis and potential impeachment proceedings in Jefferson City.

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1 p.m.

Prosecutors in the felony invasion of privacy case against Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens do not have the photo that's central to the case as they prepare for a trial set to start May 14.

The married Republican governor is accused of taking an unauthorized photo of a woman while she was partially nude during a sexual encounter in 2015, before he was elected.

Circuit Judge Rex Burlison on Monday asked prosecutors if they had acquired the photo. Chief Trial Assistant Robert Dierker said they had not, and that the case rests on circumstantial evidence.

Greitens has admitted to the affair but denied criminal wrongdoing. He has not directly answered questions about whether he took the photo.

The alleged incident came to light when the woman's ex-husband in January released an audio recording of her discussing it.

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12:45 p.m.

A St. Louis judge has ruled that the woman involved in an extramarital affair with Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens will be allowed to testify at his felony invasion of privacy trial next week.

Circuit Judge Rex Burlison on Monday rejected claims from Greitens' attorneys that the woman's testimony was tainted because of missteps by the prosecution's investigator, William Tisaby. They've accused Tisaby of lies and withholding evidence.

The married Republican governor is accused of taking an unauthorized photo of the woman while she was partially nude during a sexual encounter in 2015, before he was elected.

Her testimony is crucial because prosecutors haven't obtained the photo she says Greitens took. The alleged incident came to light when the woman's ex-husband in January released an audio recording of her discussing it.

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