Republican Missouri Senate candidate Eric Greitens faced a scold from conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in an interview on Wednesday that turned into an irritated discussion after questions about allegations of sexual misconduct and blackmail.
In the nearly half-hour interview, Hewitt pressured Greitens, a former governor of the Republican Party, about how he plans to deal with allegations that he had photographed a naked woman without her consent, in an effort to blackmail her to keep quiet. about an extramarital affair.
These allegations were among several scandals that prompted the Greens to step down as governor in 2018, just over a year after their first term began.
The woman in this case alleged in a sworn deposition before an investigative committee led by Republicans that the Greitens forced her to perform a sexual act after taking the photo.
“How are you going to survive this? How are you not going to be Todd Akin? ”Hewitt said, comparing the Greitens to the 2012 Republican Senate candidate in Missouri, who lost a candidacy to remove the former senator. Claire McCaskill
Claire Conner McCaskill Morning Report from The Hill – Presented by the National Shooting Sports Foundation – CDC Meetings News One Step Towards Normality Blunt’s retirement deals reach McConnell’s inner circle Blunt’s retirement shakes the race for the Senate Missouri MORE (D-Mo.) After stating that women who are victims of “legitimate rape” rarely become pregnant as a result.
“You are talking to a Republican,” said Hewitt. “I just want to win the Senate, Eric. And I’m afraid you’re Todd Akin 2.0. “
Greitens repeatedly denied any wrongdoing during the interview, claiming that the allegations against him were false and had been perpetuated by “mainstream media” and the “system”.
He also compared himself to the old President Trump
Donald Trump’s Morning ReportThe Hill – Biden leans heavily on gun control The Justice Department faces risks and rewards with rebellion charges. 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 saw and observed the way the mainstream media and the left attacked President Trump for years because he was a conservative, a stranger,” said Greitens. “They do the exact same thing to me.”
Greitens launched an offer on Monday to replace Sen. Roy Blunt
Roy Dean BluntThe Hill Morning Report – Biden’s Next Act: Massive Infrastructure Plan with Tax Raises Democrats look at Georgia’s model ahead of the 2022 Senate race Mo Brooks launches Alabama Senate bid MORE (R-Mo.) In the mid-term elections of 2022. He tried to present himself as a staunch loyalist to Trump, hoping to take advantage of the wave of support that gave the former president a 15-point winning margin in Missouri in the presidential election of the last year.
Trump has yet to express an opinion on the Senate race in Missouri, although some in his orbit have sought to increase Greitens’ ambitions in the Senate. The former governor has so far praised endorsements from Rudy Giuliani
Rudy GiulianiTrump allies line up before potentially hard-hitting primaries Sidney Powell seeks resignation from Dominion Jason Miller .3B process, Andrew Giuliani joins Newsmax as contributors MORE, the former mayor of New York City and Trump’s personal lawyer, as well as Ryan Zinke
Ryan Keith ZinkeOvernight Energy: Interior finalizes plan to open 80% of Alaska’s oil reserve for drilling | Justice Department lawyers recognize presidential transition in lawsuit | Trump admin presses for permits for men who inspired Bundy standoff Administration Trump presses for herding permits for men who inspired Bundy standoff Interior Secretary positive test for COVID-19 after two days of meetings with officials: report MORE, who served for almost two years as Trump’s home secretary.
But the Greitens campaign has worried some Republicans, who fear that the former governor’s political baggage could cost them a run for the Senate that they see as an easy victory.
Republicans need to win just one Senate seat next year to win back the majority in the upper house. But they are also facing a challenging electoral map and are defending 20 seats for 14 Democrats, giving the Republican Party little room for error.
Greens are also likely to face stiff competition in the GOP primaries. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced his candidacy on Wednesday, and a handful of other prominent Republicans, including Reps. Ann Wagner
Ann Louise WagnerOn The Money: Yellen advocates raising taxes ‘fairly’ to finance infrastructure plan | Senate confirms Young as deputy budget director | Fed creates climate financial risk panel Yellen advocates raising taxes ‘fairly’ to finance infrastructure plan Former Missouri governor Eric Greitens launches bid to Senate MORE, Vicky Hartzler
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Jason Thomas SmithBiden to unveil “lean” budget proposal next week Former Missouri Republican Governor Eric Greitens launches Senate bid Ambitious House lawmakers are looking for promotions MORE and Billy Long
William (Billy) H. Long Ambitious House legislators seek promotions READ: Republicans who voted to contest election results Representative Billy Long of Missouri wins Republican Party primaries MORE, would be evaluating their own tenders for the Senate.