(MissouriNet) – Both sides in a special House committee hearing on an investigation of Governor Eric Greitens revealed yesterday they had contact with the FBI.
Republican Representative Jay Barnes, who chairs the committee, said he’d contacted federal law enforcement after hearing closed testimony from an early Greitens campaign advisor, Michael Hafner, who alleged Greitens had concealed money and received foreign donations. Barnes said he’d contacted the FBI several weeks after hearing about the foreign donations, which are illegal.
Barnes made the comment while noting the FBI then questioned him about a $100,000 payment made to attorney Al Watkins from newspaper publisher Scott Faughn. Barnes’ committee was grilling Watkins Thursday about the $100,000 payment. Watkins said during the hearing that he’d initially informed the FBI in early 2017 about the payment because it was in cash and he suspected it may have come from illegal activity, such as drug money. Watkins said he took a photo of a $50 cash delivery from Faughn and sent it to a special agent. Watkins also revealed during the hearing that he’d contacted the FBI in 2016 over Greitens encounter with a woman who has alleged he sexually coerced and tried to blackmail her. The woman is central to the House investigation of Greitens.
