House Special Investigative Committee subpoenas Greitens, mistress for public testimony

(From Rep. Don Phillips, R-Kimberling City)

Special Committee Fireworks Continue with Open Hearings

The Special Investigative Committee on Oversight has met for 88 days and this past week was full of drama as public hearings were held with testimony from three witnesses. 

Scott Faughn, publisher of the Missouri Times Magazine, testified on Wednesday. He’s the guy that claims to have given $100,000 of his “own money” to Al Watkins the defense attorney, for the ex-husband of Governor Greitens’ former mistress. The money was to purchase a recording that the ex-husband made of his wife admitting to the affair and the details of it. 

Mr. Faughn said he ponied up the money himself, but couldn’t remember who delivered it, wasn’t willing to say where it came from; whether it was stuffed in a mattress, above a ceiling tile, in a closet, a drawer, in a bank bag or in a pillow case. 

I gave him those scenarios and even told him if I had $100,000 in cash laying around, I would have a vivid memory of the details surrounding it. I also told him “It’s a good thing the delivery guy (you can't remember) delivering the money didn’t forget where to take it and keep right on going.” It was an incredibly concocted story that was laughable.

The next day, Mr. Al Watkins, testified that Scott Faughn personally delivered the money but Faughn told him the source of the money was an out of state, Republican political operative. I have a feeling it’s a very rich, in-state Republican political busy-body. 

At any rate, the two testimonies on the same subject were totally contradictory and as arrogant, vulgar and rude as Mr. Watkins was during his testimony he was far more believable than Mr. Faughn! Mr. Watkins stated that the money came in two cash payments of $50,000 and was in stacks of $100 bills. Watkins said the money came in a large brown folder. There was another $20,000 given to Watkins supposedly as part of a retainer for his services ($10,000 so Watkins could take his family on vacation)! So, $120,000 in cash was the total amount.

Then on Friday, a forensic specialist, Brian Koberna, from the Madison County Illinois Sheriff’s Dept. testified. 

Officer Koberna analyzed the Governor’s cell phone and during his testimony things really got going; not because of him but because of a lame stunt by way of the Governor's office to blindside the committee. 

Rep. Curtis Trent, Republican from Springfield, is a newly appointed member of the committee, and he was given documents (while on break, in the hallway) by Ms. Nassar, an attorney from the Governor’s office. 

Ms. Nassar wanted the documents to be offered as evidence. Rep. Trent offered the documents, which appeared to be five pages of text messaging between the ex-husband and the former mistress about his disdain for the Governor. I didn’t read what I saw, just glanced at it briefly. 

When Rep. Trent made his motion for the committee to accept the documents, things quickly got sideways! Our committee immediately went into closed session and we ultimately did not accept the documents as evidence with the stipulation that all the documents concerning the Governor are released to the committee by his legal team. 

The Governor’s legal team likes to “cherry pick” what they want us to see, in an attempt to discredit the former mistress. Repeatedly, we see the Governor's attorneys doing things and making claims that are less than credible to say the least. In fact, it’s mind-boggling to me the way they are distorting the truth and misrepresenting the facts! It’s an attempt to control or at the least, distract the committee.

What’s Next

We have subpoenaed the Governor for testimony on June 4th. We have subpoenaed the former mistress for testimony June 6th. This will be her second time before our committee to testify but the first time publicly. The investigative committee will potentially be meeting Tuesday through Saturday this next week. The entire House of Representatives will return to the capitol on Wednesday and we are scheduled to have floor session on Thursday. Things are getting ready to become very interesting. I have both feet in the stirrups!