Missouri candidate keeps money from donor sued for sex abuse

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens is keeping $1 million in campaign donations from a California venture capitalist accused of sexual abuse, even though fellow Republican and presidential candidate John Kasich's super PAC is giving a contribution from the same donor to charities that fight human trafficking.

Greitens defended that decision during a GOP debate Thursday following criticism from all three of his Republican opponents and the top Democratic contender, who are calling on Greitens to return the money.

One opponent, Catherine Hanaway, a former Republican House speaker and U.S. attorney, slammed Greitens during the debate for not taking the word of "an abused woman."

"Powerful men always try to suppress their voices," Hanaway said to Greitens in front of a studio audience of hundreds. "You should allow this woman's voice to be heard."

Greitens in response called Hanaway "just another career politician desperate to run for office who's willing to convict people in the court of public opinion."

"That's wrong," said Greitens, a former Navy SEAL officer whose campaign earlier this week said the legal process needs to "run its course."

The contribution is from a prominent financier of tech startups, Michael Goguen, who was sued in California last week by a woman alleging he sexually abused her for more than a decade.

She said he agreed to pay her $40 million in compensation for the abuse and then gave her only $10 million.

Goguen, who recently left the firm of Sequoia Capital, denies the allegations, saying through his attorney Diane Doolittle they are a "vile collection of lies" aimed at destroying his reputation.

Greitens faces a crowded August primary against suburban St. Louis businessman John Brunner, Hanaway and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster also is running for the state's top executive seat.