Missouri governor admits cheating - but denies blackmailing mistress with nude photos

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens has acknowledged being “unfaithful” in his marriage but denies allegations that he blackmailed a woman to stay quiet, following a bombshell news report that overshadowed his annual address to the Legislature.

The Republican governor and his wife released a statement late on Wednesday after St Louis television station KMOV reported that he had a sexual relationship with his former hairdresser in 2015.

The station reported that the woman’s ex-husband alleged Greitens photographed her nude and threatened to publicise the images if she spoke 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 together honestly and privately.”

A first-time candidate, Greitens rose to office in the same November 2016 election that brought President Donald Trump to power. He was a Democrat until 2015, when he switched to the Republican Party.

The former Rhodes scholar capitalised on his military service as a Navy SEAL, his work as founder of a veterans’ charity and “most importantly” his role as “a proud husband and father.” The Greitens married in 2011 and have two young sons.