Missouri Republican Senate candidate Eric Greitens on Wednesday faced an interview with Conservative radio presenter Hugh Hewitt that became a difficult exchange after questions about allegations of sexual misconduct and blackmail.
In the nearly half-hour interview, Hewitt pressured Greitens, a former Republican party governor, about how he plans to deal with allegations of photographing a naked woman without her consent in an effort to blackmail her. to shut up about an extramarital affair.
These allegations were included among the multiple scandals that led to Greitens resigning as governor in 2018, just over a year after his first term.
The woman in this case has alleged in affidavits before a Republican-led committee of inquiry that Greitens forced her to perform a sexual act after taking the photo.
“How will you survive this? How can you not be Todd Akin? Hewitt said, comparing Greitens to the 2012 Republican Senate candidate in Missouri, he lost an offer to remove the former senator. Claire McCaskill
Claire Conner McCaskill The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the National Shooting Sports Foundation – CDC News on Meetings a Step Towards Normalcy Blunt’s Retirement Offers Blow McConnell’s Inner Circle Strong Retirement Shakes Race in Senate Missouri MORE (D-Mo.) After claiming that women victims of a “legitimate rape” rarely get pregnant as a result.
“You’re talking to a Republican,” Hewitt said. “I just want to win the Senate, Eric. And I’m afraid you’ll be Todd Akin 2.0. “
Greitens repeatedly denied any offense throughout the interview, alleging that the allegations against him were false and that they had been perpetuated by the “mainstream media” and the “establishment.”
It was also compared to the above President Trump
Donald Trump: The Hill’s Morning Report: Biden leans heavily on gun control. The Department of Justice faces risks and rewards with sedition charges for riots. Online harassment is ugly and routine for women in journalism MORE at various points in the conversation, blaming the media for spreading false information about him and Trump.
“You’ve seen it and you’ve seen how the mainstream media and the left have attacked President Trump for years because he was a conservative, he was an outsider,” Greitens said. “They do me exactly the same thing.”
Greitens launched an offer Monday to replace the retired senator. Roy Blunt
Roy Dean Blunt: The Hill’s Morning Report: Biden’s upcoming act: a big infrastructure plan with tax hikes Democrats consider Georgia’s model ahead of 2022 Senate races Mo Brooks launches Senate bid in Alabama MORE (R-Mo.) In the midterm elections of 2022. He has tried to become a loyal Trump loyalist, hoping to overcome the wave of support that gave the former president a 15-point margin of victory in Missouri in last year’s presidential election.
Trump has yet to weigh in on the Missouri Senate race, though some in his orbit have tried to push Greitens Senate ambitions. The former governor has so far promoted the endorsements of Rudy Giuliani
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But Greitens’ campaign has worried some Republicans, who fear the former governor’s political baggage could cost them a run in the Senate that they consider an easy victory.
Republicans only need to get a seat in the Senate next year to regain a majority in the upper house. But they also face a challenging electoral map and defend 20 seats for the 14 Democrats, giving the GOP little room for error.
Greitens are likely to face stiff competition in the Republican Party primaries. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on Wednesday announced his candidacy and a handful of other prominent Republicans, including representatives. Ann Wagner
Ann Louise Wagner On The Money: Yellen advocates raising taxes “in a fair way” to fund infrastructure plan | Senate confirms Young as deputy director of budgets The Fed creates a climate financial risk panel. Yellen advocates raising taxes “in a fair way” to fund the infrastructure plan. Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens is launching a bid in the Senate MORE, Vicky Hartzler
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Jason Thomas SmithBiden to unveil “skinny” budget proposal next week Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens launches Senate bid Ambitious House lawmakers seek promotions MORE i Billy Long
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