By: Jim Salter

St. Louis, MO  (AP)  A St. Louis judge ruled Friday that an attorney for the woman’s ex-husband must submit to a deposition next week about the source of a $100,000 payment he received to help cover the man’s legal fees.

Attorney Al Watkins had said earlier this week that his firm received two anonymous $50,000 payments in January, just before Greitens admitted to the affair. The invasion of privacy investigation began after Watkins released the ex-husband’s secretly recorded audio conversation in which his former wife accused Greitens of taking the photo.

Watkins’ attorney, Chuck Hatfield, said at Friday’s hearing that an unnamed client of Watkins was involved in providing the money. Defense attorneys have speculated that a “political operative” paid to persuade the man to come forward.

St. Louis Circuit Judge Rex Burlison said the source of the money could be relevant.

“If it was given by a GoFundMe, that’s different than if it was given by a political operative,” the judge said.

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Salter reported from St. Louis.