Eric Greitens has won a court battle over his text messages

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Photo credit UNIVERSITY CITY, MO - FEBRUARY 22: Missouri Governor Eric Greitens addresses the crowd at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery on February 22, 2017 in University City, Missouri. Greitens and US Vice President Mike Pence were on hand to speak to over 300 volunteers who helped cleanup after the recent vandalism. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a nationwide spike in incidents including bomb threats at Jewish community centers and reports of anti-semitic graffiti. (Photo: Michael Thomas/ Getty Images)

JEFFERSON CITY (KMOX) — Eric Greitens wins a legal battle over his text messages.

A Cole County Circuit judge has dismissed claims that former Gov. Greitens' office used a message-deleting app called Confide to avoid the state Sunshine Law.

Related: Lawyer says texts show Greitens' staffers' use of secretive appSt. Louis attorney Ben Sansone sued Greitens in 2017 over usage of the Confide app. Greitens resigned last year in the face of possible impeachment and allegations of sexual and political misconduct, but the lawsuit continued.The judge ruled that Confide doesn't create government records that can be retained. Beetem also ruled that as a private citizen, Sansone cannot sue Greitens over alleged Sunshine Law violations.Beetem set a July 23 hearing over Sansone's remaining claim that Greitens' administration failed to turn over certain phone records.
Related: Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens Resigns