With Greitens returning to public life, he files to run for statewide office. In 2024

After resigning in disgrace two years ago, former Gov. Eric Greitens filed paperwork Wednesday to run for an unspecified statewide office in 2024.

The filing allows Greitens’ campaign committee to remain active with the Missouri Ethics Commission. By doing so, he has been able to spend campaign funds on legal expenses, of which he has many. He currently has almost $438,000 cash on hand, according to the campaign’s April filing.

Similar to Wednesday’s move, Greitens’ campaign committee had submitted paperwork to the MEC last year to show that he planned to run for the Aug. 4 primary for governor.

However, the deadline for Greitens to file with the Missouri Secretary of State so his name appears on the August GOP gubernatorial primary ballot passed in March. There is no indication that he is collecting signatures to run for governor as an independent.

After largely remaining silent and avoiding reporters for two years, Greitens returned to the public eye in February of this year, after the Missouri Ethics Commission fined him $178,000 for two campaign finance violations.

Though it was one of the largest fines levied by the state agency, Greitens called the MEC decision as a “total exoneration” and the earlier the investigation of him by fellow Republicans a witch hunt.

The MEC decision, however, did not address Greitens’ most explosive scandal: an extramarital affair in 2015, in which the woman alleged sexually violent misconduct by Greitens.

The woman testified under oath in front of a Missouri House of Representatives committee that Greitens taped her hands to pull-up rings in his basement, blindfolded her, spit water into her mouth, ripped open her shirt, pulled down her pants and took a photo of her to use as blackmail to keep her from talking about their relationship.

Greitens admitted to having an extramarital affair, but he has always denied the claims of sexual coercion or violence.

Since the MEC decision, Greitens has criticized Parson’s response to containing the novel coronavirus in the state. He distributed masks to local police and fire departments, which later appeared to be on the CDC’s list of defective personal protective equipment.

Last month, he announced he and his wife Sheena Chestnut Greitens were filing for divorce. An expert on Asia, authoritarianism and national security, the former First Lady plans to leave the state to become a professor at the University of Texas-Austin, she announced through social media.

Recently, he released a 12-minute video on his website, which relitigates the events of 2018.

“They lied to you,” he tweeted June 4, with the video attached. “Now, the truth is coming.”

All statewide races, with the exception of state auditor, are open in 2024. If Greitens were to run for U.S. Senate in 2024, he would have to file with the Federal Elections Commission, instead of Missouri’s state equivalent.

A request for comment sent to a Greitens’ campaign staffer was not returned.

This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 3:34 PM.