Missouri Ethics Commission – it ain’t chicken feed

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campaign finance, Eric Greitens, fine, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission

$178,087.00.

Eric Greitens (r) [2016 file photo].

Today [pdf] at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION, Petitioner, v. GREITENS FOR MISSOURI, Respondent. Case No. 18-0064-1 & 18-0065-1

The consent order:

BEFORE THE
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION,
Petitioner,
v.
GREITENS FOR MISSOURI,
Respondent.

Case No. 18-0064-1 & 18-0065-1

CONSENT ORDER

The parties have filed a Joint Stipulation of Facts, Waiver of Hearing, and Proposed Consent Order with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Accordingly, the Missouri Ethics Commission accepts as true the facts stipulated and finds that there is probable cause to believe that Respondent violated Sections 130.021.4(1) and 130.031.2, RSMo. The Commission directs that the Joint Stipulation be adopted.

1. Respondent shall comply with all relevant sections of Chapter 130, RSMo.
2. Respondent shall amend and file all reports and statement with the Commission.
3. It is the order of the Missouri Ethics Commission that a fee is imposed against Respondent in the amount of $178,087.00. The fee will be paid by check or money order made payable to the Missouri Ethics Commission.
4. If Respondent pays $38,000.00 of the total fee within 45 days after the date of this Consent Order, the remainder will be stayed.
5. Regardless of the stay in the preceding paragraph, if the Commission finds there is probable cause to believe that Respondent committed any further violation of the campaign finance laws under Chapter 130, RSMo, within the two-year period after the date of this Consent Order, then Respondent will be required to pay the remainder of those fees. The remainder will be due immediately upon a final probable cause finding that Respondent has committed a violation.
6. Respondent shall not transfer funds to any other candidate committee during the two-year period after the date of this Consent Order.

SO ORDERED this 13th day of February, 2020
s/
By Don Summers, Chair

From Eric Greitens (r), via Facebook:

Eric Greitens
We’ve been fully exonerated.

“After a 20-month investigation, the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) released an order fully exonerating former Governor Eric Greitens. They found “no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Eric Greitens.””

This news makes clear what many of you knew all along: in 2018 our justice system was abused. Lies were told and bribes were paid in a criminal effort to overturn the 2016 election. And now, the truth is beginning to come out.
Some of the people who made up false charges against me, have now been charged with seven felonies for what they did: they lied under oath and they tampered with evidence. And there is more to come.

Of course, this wasn’t really about me. It was an attack designed for one purpose: to overturn your votes, because we were fighting for you.

The constant harassment and vitriol, the lies—repeated and magnified, over and over again—the vicious attack on family and personal finances, affected far more than me and my family. It ripped apart a lot of lives, and put an end to a lot of the good that our team was doing.

I’ve never been a guy who likes to admit he’s hurting, but personally this past year and a half has been the hardest of my life—there have been plenty of dark days. But, as anyone who has gone through pain knows, you can emerge stronger.

In fact, the vicious, abusive, illegal political attacks, have only highlighted how compassionate, strong, and loving most regular people are. And I’m grateful to everyone who—at the grocery store, the gas station, and a hundred other places and times—came up to offer kindness. Thank you.

And I’d say to anyone who is struggling right now—who’s dealing with injustice, unfairness, or just a raw deal—hang on, keep faith, and have courage—life comes back around, and it offers a lot of joy, and purpose, and love.
I feel and I am, incredibly blessed. I’ve always tried to serve to the best of my ability, and one of the greatest blessings was the opportunity to serve you as your Governor. I’m going to continue to serve, and I look forward to walking on this journey with so many of you.

Gen 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good”. The pain that people intended for evil, we can, and will, use to become stronger.

As a final note, I think it’s important to say this: the deepest possible tragedy in all of this, would come if we let them change who we are. I am—and the people on our team have always been—optimistic and hopeful about the future. We’ve been strong in the face of evil and compassionate for those who need us.

Many people have asked about revenge. That’s not what we need. Revenge is about the past. Justice is about the future. And, I’ll tell you, the future is bright.

WTF?

The comments, of course, are hilarious:

It appears former governor fifty shades does not know what that word means. Exonerated, lol.

Please Make Missouri Great Again in 2020. It is time for a real leader who can bring businesses to our state, and chart a course. You are a prime example of what the embedded political class has tried to do Pres. Trump for the last three years. The only difference is that the Republicans stood by him and they left you out to dry.

Uh, do you get the feeling that they believe that’s a ringing endorsement?

And that is why you have to pay a $178,000 fine?? This sounds familiar.

I am just glad that ones that lied are being held accountable. I am so glad you kept your faith and prevailed. Bless you!

WTF?

…they are trying to slam him just like they are doing to Trump. The democrats can’t stand the true meaning of a nation turning to God. They can’t stand the thought of Godly men being in office cause they have ran the United States for so long. The devil doesn’t like light. That’s what is wrong with this nation the democrats have ran it to long without God.

Should someone tell them? Nah.

Seems to me you put yourself in positions that allowed the other side to do this. If you were the moral ethical person you claimed to be, none of this would have been possible. The real losers in this is your family that had to go through all of this because of your actions.

And there were a lot of interesting replies to that one.

…what is the saying “let those without sin cast the first stone”?

…judge others as ye be judged!

…I’m sure that he would take any advice from you, since you are perfect.

…so I guess you have never done anything to be ashamed of, it’s all about forgiveness and his wife stood by him so you are you to judge???
This was a hit from the left, just like they did to Trump.

…my very thoughts exactly. Thankful that God gives us Grace in our sins and short comings and I think He had something to say about us doing the same thing.

…apparently you are pure and without sin! Hateful, vengeful people who continue to throw judgmental remarks like yours out to a man who made his mistakes and corrected them is a stinker himself … no doubt you are no angel either! Very few of us can claim that!

They don’t know, do they?

And the original commenter replies:

…to answer many of your statements about my comment, I did not campaign on a platform of family values and integrity as Greiten’s did.

…never said I was perfect or better than anybody but when a person has a platform of integrity and family values we have a right to hold him/her to those standards.

I voted for him, proudly. Then the truth came out about his character. I am glad the got rid of him. I hope he is a changed person now. But he violated the trust of every person that voted for him because of his campaign on family values and integrity.

And a bunch have no idea of what this is about:

So Thankful. Never believed you were guilty. Don’t let what happened stop you from doing what God has called you to do. May God continue to Bless you, your wife and family.

I’m so happy this is behind you. We need you back in office!

Congrats you were so great and I’m so sorry they forced you to leave. We sure needed you and we want you back. You weren’t scared to act and they hated that.

I would have bet on this outcome when it was going on,I knew Eric Greitens was innocent because they never charged him with any crime just personal attacks,and propaganda,he’s a former navy seal I don’t believe those guys are inclined to break the law or take a shortcut to make it easy.good for you mr.Greitens,all the best to you and yours in the future.

So sorry. Missouri lost out on a wonderful governor. Run again!

Omgosh, Eric thank God you are back!
So many prayers have been said for you and yours! The injustice done to you was done to all of us that voted for you. We need you back as Governor, desperately.

So, you getting your old job back? That would be the right thing anyway.

Welcome back! I’ve missed you! I never stopped supporting you!

Same planet, different worlds.

So you stole a donor list from a charity & owe $178,000 in fines… that’s nowhere close to “total exoneration”

Stay gone.

So you’re releasing the donor list?

This has to be one of the biggest farces in the history of Missouri. I still can’t believe what happen to you. Between this farce and the one on President Trump, I wonder why vote. But they aren’t going to get away with this. What the ____ is going on in America.

The first thing that Missouri citizens should insist on his being returned to the position of Governor. Because I sure don’t trust Parson. He will side with the Democrats in the state. He dosent have the people’s rights in ,mind to protect the second amendment. He has already said he is willing to talk with Democrats to have some gun laws put into law here in Missouri. We need him gone. He is not what he pretends to be.
If there is anything at all that Missouri politicians can do to remove him at once.

Same planet, different worlds.

Thankful the truth has been revealed. I’ve kept you and your family in my prayers. Your desire to continue to serve shows your strength of character and faith.

Yes. I’m sorry your family had to go through this to. But it’s time you come back and be our governor.

And so Missouri was denied their duly elected and Probably good Governor by liars and rumors of lies! All that was ever proven was he was human and humanly weak!

“Probably good”. Heh.

And of course, not a peep from the crooked, lying MSM. If they would’ve found anything to make you look bad though, guaranteed we’d hear that embellished story.

Round up the usual suspects.

It was all about a bitter, jealous, vindictive ex-husband getting his revenge. I hope he gets his due.

Uh, they said the quiet part out loud.

Yeah, people get kind of rude when you’re screwing their spouse.

Family values.

it happens every day. When you make it your mission to ruin someone’s career over it, that just makes you a classless pos.

I see your moral compass is flat earth.

Ouch. That one left a mark.

So he didnt cheat on his wife, lie about it, and threaten the woman he slept with! What a relief! Now he can run again on Christian values!

Is somebody going to tell them?

You need to be reinstated as Governor. All who were involved need to be prosecuted to the fullest. I knew this was a sham from the beginning. The extreme left will stop at nothing.

Family values are so very important to Missourians.

I wish our president could get the same justice! He, too has been found to be innocent of charges. But instead of prosecuting those who lied and fabricated false evidence, they simply continue with the lies and false charges! This is a travesty of justice on a level never before witnessed in this nation!

If you’ve ever wondered what you would have done if you had lived in Germany in the 1930s, you’re doing it now.

If you’ll consider running again, we’ll vote for you again!! We knew it was all a witch hunt!

There was no doubt in my mind! Innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. Blessings on you and your family

Glad you were exonerated. I didn’t believe any of the allegations against you.

Uh. $178,087.00 fine.

After reading all these posts at least one thing is clear: Republicans sure do love them some hot, saucy infidelity with their politicians. Do you think Sheena looks at their excercise equipment quite the same these days?

Someone just had to go there.

Do they always assess a fine on people who are exonerated?

Then they should place you back in office if everything is peachy

Peachy is an interesting way to put it.

Mister Greitens. Mr Parsons is a greedy greedy Old man this is all set up by the democrats and the representative woman down there South of Saint Louis who threatened POTUS Donald Trump. She was helped with George Soros backing

Is somebody going to tell him?

They ruined him and tried ro ruin Kavanaugh. What a bunch of screwballs! I always thought you were innocent.

Brett Kavanaugh likes beer.

Then why’d you quit?

I still do not want you in government. Nor do I want to see you in any position over other people.

Does this mean you get your job back?

This investigation only dealt with allegations of campaign contribution reporting violations and none of the real allegations that forced him from office…..

Somebody told them.

You still cheated on your wife though?

I guess that’s why you’re only a hero in Missouri and not a better state

They said the quiet part out loud.

Why isn’t this on the news?

Uh, just spit balling here, because it isn’t what he says it is.

Not all Missourians love this creep! I’m glad he’s out.

Mr. Greitens, on behalf of Missouri and the People of the United States, please run for POTUS 2020!

Dazed or confused?

Resilience. Please, please run for Governor. We need a leader and we don’t have one.

Man, imagine the colossal suckiness that it is to be Mike Parson (r).

Thank you Jesus Sorry you and your family had to go thru this. Your family and you are still in my prayers. I wish you would run again you have my vote and would volunteer for you. God bless

Not exonerated. Fined. That means there was wrongdoing.

Then why did you get fined?

Hope to see you on a ballad soon!

Maybe a movie of the week?

Can I get a link to the details about the people charged with seven felonies in this investigation? I’d like to go read up on the details.

Your next title should be President Greitens. Show the people on both sides of the political aisle they can’t keep you down.

They went there, didn’t they?

So….are you saying you didn’t cheat on your wife?!

Run again you have our vote. Parsons is not a true conservative

Mike Parson (r) is so popular with right wingnuts they can’t even spell his name right.

If you ever want to go get a beer. I’m in.

Brett Kavanaugh likes beer.

You sound just like Trump, lol. “Total acquittal.” Hahahaha.

Crooked politician and totally lacking in morals.

Any chance/hope that you will seek the Governor’s Office, and/or go higher, (Washington D.C.) Pres. Trump needs HONEST people.

There’s so much there to unpack.

Sorry, but there is still the sex scandal. He needs to be quiet.

Then, a back and forth:

not really a scandal. He and his wife dealt with it, and guessing he’s made good with his God, so… why can’t you let it go?

Be quiet or someone may look in your closet.

Pretty sure it wasn’t a closet.

what part of exonerated don’t you understand?

Pretty sure that’s beyond the jurisdiction of the Missouri Ethics Commission.

there was no scandal

There is no God

And so did Greitens and his wife. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

we hired him to do a job. Not be our moral enlightenment coach. He was doing that job when he was illegally forced out. If I want moral advice I’ll go ask a preacher.

Did you all know that Newt Gingrich’s (r) mistress from his second marriage is the current U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See?

You were done wrong! Our first Jewish Governor should have been lifted up and celebrated! Run again!

Somebody told them.

If you are completely exonerated, why is the Ethics Commission fining you $178K for campaign finance violations, Hmm?

God please save us from that daft parsons .

For the love of all that is holy.

Our options are Nicole Galloway and mike parsons.

And if we get parsons it means we get his sidekick kehoe !

Mike Parson (r) gets such respect!

Still thinking of running for president are you Eric, well take heart if Donald Trump can become president United States so can you, and I’m sure you’ll do an excellent job of destroying this country just like he has.

Tell us what it’s like to be a person without morality or ethics or a soul, you must be very very empty inside.

And I have to warn you that no amount of validation will ever fill that hole. [….]