Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens acknowledges affair, denies blackmail allegations

Responding to a bombshell report that overshadowed his annual address to the legislature, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens on Wednesday night acknowledged that he's been "unfaithful" in his marriage but denies allegations that he blackmailed the woman he had an extramarital affair with to stay quiet.

The Republican governor and his wife released a statement after the St. Louis TV station KMOV reported that he had a sexual relationship with his former hairdresser in 2015. The station's report, released late Wednesday after Greitens gave his State of the State address, said the woman's ex-husband alleged Greitens photographed his nude and threatened to publish the images if she speak about the affair

"A few years ago, before Eric was elected Governor, there was a time when he was unfaithful in our marriage," the statement from Greitens and his wife, Sheena, said. "This was a deeply personal mistake. Eric took responsibility, and we dealt with this honestly and privately."

Greitens, a first-time candidate, rose to office in the same November 2016 election that brought President Donald Trump to power. His campaign capitalized on his military service as a navy SEAL and his work as founder of a veterans' charity, casting himself as an outsider going up against a career politician, the state's democratic attorney general. He's not up to re-election until 2020

The woman allegedly involved did not comment on the record, which did not name her But her ex-husband, who also was not named, provided an audio recording he made to KMOV in which the woman gives details about a sexual encounter she says she had with Greitens in March 2015 at his St. Louis home. The woman did not know her then

The alleged March 2015 encounter came after Greitens opened a committee to explore a bid for Missouri governor but before he officially announced his candidacy.

In the recording, the woman said Greitens said her "You're never going to mention my name, otherwise there will be pictures of me everywhere."