JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - After the revelation in January that Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens[1] had an extramarital affair with his former hairdresser before he took office, the first-term Republican faced a series of investigations and charges.
Here’s a look at some of the significant moments that led to Greitens[2]‘ announcement Tuesday that he was resigning:
Jan. 10 - Hours after Greitens[3] delivers his State of the State speech, St. Louis[4] television station KMOV broadcasts a story featuring a conversation secretly recorded between the governor’s former hairdresser and her then-husband in 2015 in which she is heard saying she had a sexual encounter with Greitens[5]. She says he took a photo of her while she was partially nude and threatened to release it if she exposed their relationship. Greitens[6] issues a statement admitting to having an affair but calling it consensual and denying blackmail.
Feb. 22 - A grand jury in St. Louis[7] indicts the governor on a felony invasion of privacy charge for taking and transmitting the alleged photo. Greitens[8]‘ attorney says the charge is “baseless and unfounded.”
March 1 - The Republican-led Missouri House forms a bipartisan committee to investigate Greitens[9]. On the same day, Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley opens an inquiry into The Mission Continues, a veterans charity Greitens[10] founded. A key issue is Greitens[11]‘ use of a charity donor list for his political campaign.
March 14 - A Democratic consultant files an ethics complaint alleging that Greitens[12] falsely reported how his campaign obtained The Mission Continues’ donor list and failed to disclose that it also got the charity’s email list.
April 11 - The House investigatory committee releases a graphic report that details instances in which Greitens[13]‘ former hairdresser says he slapped, spanked, shoved, grabbed and called her derogatory names during a series of sexual encounters in 2015. The committee finds her testimony credible. Greitens[14] says the report is part of a “witch hunt.” The woman’s name never has been officially released; it is redacted from the legislative documents and she is identified only by her initials in court filings.
April 17 - Hawley announces that Greitens[15] may have committed a felony by taking The Mission Continues’ donor list and using it for political fundraising without the charity’s permission. Hawley turned his evidence over to St. Louis[16] prosecutors.
April 20 - St. Louis[17] prosecutors charge Greitens[18] with a felony of tampering with computer data for allegedly disclosing The Mission Continues’ donor list to his political fundraiser in 2015 without the permission of the St. Louis[19]-based charity. Greitens[20] says the allegations are “ridiculous” and resists calls...