Greitens: “Cowardice problem” with Missouri leadership

The investigation continues into the gun-toting St. Louis couple who was seen protecting their home from protestors who were on their way to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house late last month. The couple, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, had their rifle seized by authorities over the weekend. There’s even a possibility the couple could be indicted.

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens joined Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Monday night to talk about the issue.

“Kim Gardner who is attacking the McCloskeys, who’s letting looters loose, is a George Soros funded prosecutor. He paid for 70 percent of her campaign,” said Greitens. “And what you’re seeing now is that the radical left is getting what they paid for. She is letting looters loose, businesses are being burned. Police officers are being shot. You have people engaged in prayer who are attacked and assaulted by Black Lives Matter activists and no one is charged and then, she turns around and charges people who are defending themselves.”

But Greitens says that Gardner is only a part of the problem. Carlson asked why the current governor [Mike Parson] didn’t come to the aid of the McCloskeys.

“I’m sad to say that part of the problem is also that you have some Republicans whose cowardice and complicity is also accelerating and fueling the problem here. And we need to have leaders who are willing to stand up, be clear, act with some courage, and some clarity.”

Greitens says he talks to police officers every single day and they say there is no leadership. “There is no direction. There is no clarity. There is no plan,” added Greitens. “We need to have leaders who stand up with compassion, with clarity with courage to bring peace.”

Greitens went on to blast the current leadership in the state. “Well, look, you have a cowardice problem, Tucker. I’m telling you, when I was governor, we beat Antifa and we did it by bringing people together,” said Greitens. “We had police lieutenants standing right beside clergy. And I was very clear. I was a Navy SEAL. We fought for everyone’s constitutional rights, and that included everyone’s rights to freedom of speech, everyone’s rights to freedom of assembly.”

Current governor Mike Parson, who was Lieutenant Governor under Greitens, said Tuesday the St. Louis couple “had every right” to wave guns and shout at protesters near their property. It seemed to be a direct response to what Greitens said Monday night.

Parson also said President Trump is aware of the situation. “He understands the situation in Missouri. He understands the situation in St. Louis and how out of control it is to let violent criminals off and not do their job and try to attack law-abiding citizens.”

Parson added that Trump promised to “do everything he could within his powers to help with this situation, and that he would be taking action to do that. I’m thankful that he’s getting involved in this situation.”