Greitens' lawyer waives first appearance in computer tampering case

An attorney for Gov. Eric Greitens on Tuesday waived his first appearance in a felony computer tampering case.

The felony charge stems from Attorney General Josh Hawley's investigation into allegations that Greitens illegally obtained a donor list from a veterans charity he founded to solicit contributions for his 2016 gubernatorial campaign.

No indictment has been filed, and the case is pending in front of a grand jury, said Greitens' lawyer Jack Garvey. The governor was not in court on Tuesday.

A judge still has to decide whether there will be a special prosecutor in the case. Greitens’ attorneys have said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner's office should not prosecute the computer tampering case after alleged misconduct during its handling of a separate invasion of privacy case.

"We just think there's a conflict of interest," Garvey said.

Gardner's office dropped the invasion of privacy charge against Greitens last week after a judge agreed to allow Greitens' team to depose her. On Monday, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Bakers was appointed as a special prosecutor in that case and will have the discretion to refile charges.

A hearing is planned for next week to determine whether a special prosecutor should also be appointed in the computer tampering case.

This story was originally published May 22, 2018 at 10:39 AM with the headline "Greitens' lawyer waives first appearance in computer tampering case."