St. Louis judge in Greitens case orders inquiry into source of $100,000 cash payment
ST. LOUIS • Circuit Judge Rex Burlison on Friday ordered lawyer Al Watkins to be deposed next week about the source of two $50,000 cash bundles delivered anonymously at his Clayton law firm a month before Gov. Eric Greitens was indicted on a felony charge of invasion of privacy.
"I think that's a relevant inquiry," Burlison told lawyers toward the end of an hour-long hearing Friday. "The answer to that question needs to be tracked down."
Watkins, who represents the ex-husband of the woman who accused Greitens of taking a partially nude photo of her without her consent in March 2015, told reporters Monday that the cash was delivered to his law firm by courier and that there was "no doubt" it was related to the case involving the governor. Watkins said he had "no idea" who the donor was. His statements followed a claim in court from Greitens' lawyers that the money came from a "political operative" to cover legal bills for the ex-husband.
On Friday, Watkins' lawyer Chuck Hatfield said one of Watkins' clients "was involved" in the delivery of one of the $50,000 payments, and therefore Watkins shouldn't have to disclose the source of the cash. Hatfield would not reveal the identity of the client and said the fact the money came via a client makes it privileged.
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