Opinion | A GOP Specialty: Unhealthy Senate Candidates

Mr. Greitens denies the allegations, and child-custody fights aren’t identified for factual restraint. His supporters be aware that the St. Louis Circuit Lawyer who filed a prison cost in opposition to him in February 2018 over the {photograph} was a Democrat—and that she later dropped the cost. They are saying proof of the picture by no means materialized; the hairdresser testified that Mr. Greitens informed her he’d erased it.

However Mr. Greitens created the circumstances of this mess. In January 2018 he admitted the affair with the hairdresser, at the same time as he rejected her blackmail claims. In her court docket submitting, Ms. Greitens says Mr. Greitens informed her that he’d taken the picture. This backs up the hairdresser’s declare that was made underneath oath.

A Republican Missouri Home led the investigation into the allegations and located Mr. Greitens’s habits disturbing sufficient to threaten impeachment. Republican Senator

Josh Hawley,

then Missouri’s Lawyer Basic, individually accused Mr. Greitens of utilizing a donor listing for his veteran’s charity to lift cash for his gubernatorial bid.

That led to a cost of felony computer-tampering, which was dismissed as a part of Mr. Greitens’s settlement with St. Louis prosecutors to depart workplace. Maybe Mr. Greitens is the goal of some huge conspiracy, however this truck load of bags would comply with him if he wins the social gathering nomination.

The Greitens downside is a reminder that Republicans have a particular expertise for nominating dangerous Senate candidates. Recall Delaware’s

Christine O’Donnell

(“I’m not a witch”) in 2010; Missouri’s

Todd Akin

and Indiana’s

Richard Mourdock

(each with incendiary feedback on rape) in 2012; and Alabama’s

Roy Moore,

who misplaced a particular election in 2017 after accusations of inappropriate sexual contact with underage women.

Mr. Greitens is searching for an endorsement from

Donald Trump

to supply an edge in a crowded GOP major subject. Don Jr.’s fiancee

Kimberly Guilfoyle

is backing Mr. Greitens. The previous President has been identified to select some turkeys, resembling Pennsylvania’s

Sean Parnell,

who ended his Senate marketing campaign final 12 months amid allegations of spousal abuse.

The Senate election stakes are excessive this 12 months, with a 50-50 cut up, and an pressing want for Republicans to steer the Biden Administration on protection spending and power safety. This needs to be GOP 12 months, however dangerous candidates might value them dearly.