Missouri’s Republican governor, Eric Greitens, announced at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that he’s resigning, effective Friday.
Things looked bad for Greitens in January when a local TV station reported that not only had Greitens had an extramarital affair — he was also accused of blackmail, threatening to circulate compromising pictures of his mistress if she told.
In February, Greitens was indicted on a felony invasion of privacy charge for taking a nude photo without consent, but that criminal case was dropped in May after no photo surfaced.
Reporters say that Greitens blamed “outside forces” for his resignation and said his supporters could leave with their “heads held high.”
Missouri Gov. Greitens announces resignation: "It's clear that for the forces that oppose us, there is no end in sight. I cannot allow those forces to continue to cause pain and difficulty to the people that I love." https://t.co/5cYoGrRyr9 pic.twitter.com/kPLVcR7Qi8
— ABC News (@ABC) May 29, 2018
BREAKING: Missouri Governor Greitens announces he is resigning, effective Friday. https://t.co/jHqTis8jeA pic.twitter.com/WS6aVmE11B
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) May 29, 2018
Saying he and his supporters can leave the battlefield "for now," with their "heads held high," Greitens adds, "We have a good and proud story to tell our children."
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) May 29, 2018
.@EricGreitens insisting his innocence: "I have not broken any laws, nor committed any offense worthy of this treatment." #MOLeg
— Eli Yokley (@eyokley) May 29, 2018
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The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Greitens might have been compelled to resign due to a legal decision earlier in the day: “The announcement came hours after a separate ruling by a judge forcing the governor’s campaign and a dark-money group affiliated with Greitens to reveal fundraising information to a special House committee that was probing whether to impeach him.”
https://twitter.com/RightWingAngel/status/1001593646943211520
BREAKING: Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner says she has reached an agreement with Greitens' lawyers over criminal charges.. meaning this resignation is tied to a legal settlement. DEVELOPING…
— Christopher Ave (@ChristopherAve) May 29, 2018
On the bright side, Eric Greitens picked a great day to quit!
— Robert A George (@RobGeorge) May 29, 2018
Greitens gone. Roseanne gone. We’ll call this the Day of Hygiene.
— David French (@DavidAFrench) May 29, 2018
Gov. Eric Greitens resigning today. Missouri's long statewide nightmare is over.
I haven't been paying close attention recently, so I'm not sure what pushed him over the edge.
— Esoteric Jeff (@EsotericCD) May 29, 2018
Can you name a crazier trajectory than the political career of Eric Greitens?
— Mac McClung Fan Account (@LPDonovan) May 29, 2018
Navy SEAL
Rhodes Scholar
Bronze Star & Purple Heart
Devoted his life to a variety of charitable works
Bestselling author
Taught ethics & public serviceGreitens had such a fantastic resume, at a young age. Both parties wanted him. What a downfall: morally, politically, legally.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) May 29, 2018
I only knew he was a vet. The rest of this just makes his downfall even more disgraceful. https://t.co/F2L2JAIOaT
— Holly (@GrasshopperHF) May 29, 2018
Lt. Gov. Mike Parson, also a Republican, will assume the role of governor.
Related:
'WHOA': Criminal case against Mo. Gov. Eric Greitens has been DISMISSED (but it's NOT over yet) https://t.co/MCeNW0XqIt
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 14, 2018
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