Local elected officials are weighing in on their thoughts regarding the recent indictment against Gov. Eric Greitens.
A St. Louis grand jury indicted Greitens on Thursday, Feb. 22, on a felony invasion of privacy charge for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman without her knowledge or consent.
Circuit Judge Rex Burlison set the trial for May 14.
Greitens admitted to having an affair with his former hairdresser in 2015 before being elected as governor, but said he did not commit a crime.
State Sen. Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was on the forefront of lobbying for an investigation into the governor by drafting a letter calling for Attorney General Josh Hawley to look into the allegations against Greitens.
"I thought there needed to be a fair and swift investigation," Libla said.
Once the indictment was handed down, Libla said the process is now working and hopes the evidence is looked at as well.
Libla went on to add a grand jury does not hand down indictments unless the situation is serious.
"There has been a dark cloud hanging over the Capitol since the State of the State address," he said, which is keeping legislators from "doing the work of the people."
Libla has since expressed he believes the governor should "seriously consider resigning" to remove the dark cloud and allow work for the people to resume.
On Monday, Feb. 26, the Missouri House formed a special panel of seven lawmakers to investigate Greitens.
Greitens was in Malden, Mo., Monday touring the town after it was struck by a tornado over the weekend.
The committee, formed by House Speaker Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff, will determine whether to move forward with impeachment proceedings against Greitens.
Richardson appointed Republican Representatives Don Phillips, Jeanie Lauer, Kevin Austin and Shawn Rhoads and Democratic Representatives Gina Mitten and Tommie Pierson Jr. to the committee, which is led by Representative Jay Barnes, a Republican from Jefferson City, Mo.
"Last week's indictment of Governor Greitens is obviously deeply concerning, which is why I formed the Special Investigative Committee on Oversite to carefully determine the facts surrounding the indictment," said Richardson. "I asked the committee to begin its work this week of conducting a fair, thorough and timely investigation. We take the charges very seriously, but will not let it deter us or limit our ability to move forward on the substantive priorities Missourians sent us to Jefferson City to work on."
District 153 Rep. Steve Cookson of Poplar Bluff said he had no "ill will" toward the governor, but whether looking at himself or any other elected official, their first duty is to the people and not their own personal agenda.
He also added he appreciates the work Richardson is doing and has faith in his leadership.
In a statement previously released Jan. 16, Cookson thanked Greitens for his service to the nation, the State of Missouri and specifically for appointing him to the Organ Donor Task Force. Cookson is on a waiting list for an organ transplant.
After the victim confirmed her voice on the tape, which originally aired Jan. 10, Cookson said he wanted to appeal to Greitens' sense of character, leadership and any regard he may have for his family and the "good folks of the State of Missouri."
"I'm calling for him to step down and resign as governor of the State of Missouri so that the work on the many issues he has expressed concern for can resume without these distractions," Cookson said. "May God continue to bless Eric and his family and all the families involved and may God bless the great State of Missouri."
Cookson said he still stands by his previous statement and believes the indictment is a distraction to Greitens' work as well as others.
"We are doing our best to try and carry on the people's business," Cookson said in light of the indictment facing the governor.