Eric Greitens: Republican governor charged over allegations he blackmailed former mistress with nude photographs

A Republican governor who touted his credentials as a “proud husband and father” has been charged over allegations he blackmailed a former mistress with nude photographs.

Eric Greitens denies the accusations and remains defiant amid calls for his resignation, or even impeachment.

A St Louis grand jury indicted the Missouri governor for invasion of privacy, alleging the 43-year-old took a compromising photo of a woman during an affair the year before he was elected.

Kim Gardner, St Louis circuit attorney, announced the charge following an investigation launched in January after Mr Greitens admitted he had been "unfaithful" with his hairdresser in 2015.

Mr Greitens said he made a mistake but "did not commit a crime”. He accused Ms Gardner, a Democrat who was also elected in November 2016, of playing politics.

"With today's disappointing and misguided political decision, my confidence in our prosecutorial system is shaken, but not broken," Mr Greitens said. "I know this will be righted soon. The people of Missouri deserve better than a reckless liberal prosecutor who uses her office to score political points."

Ms Gardner's spokeswoman, Susan Ryan, responded: "Despite the Governor's personal attacks, the Circuit Attorney believes the courtroom is the appropriate place to argue the facts, not the media."

Mr Greitens' lawyer, in a separate statement, called the indictment "baseless and unfounded”. Lawyer Edward L Dowd Jr filed a motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that any relationship with the woman was consensual.

A few lawmakers from both parties suggested that Mr Greitens should consider resigning, just as they did after he admitted to the affair on 10 January.

House Republican leaders announced they were forming a group of lawmakers to investigate the charges "and answer the question as to whether or not the governor can lead our state while a felony case moves forward”. Mr Dowd said the governor welcomes the review.

The joint statement from House Speaker Todd Richardson, Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr and majority leader Rob Vescovo did not specifically mention impeachment, a process that must begin in the House with an investigation.

But for some lawmakers, impeachment is on the table.

"Governor Greitens has to go," Democratic state senator Jamilah Nasheed of St Louis said. "Missourians thought they voted for a person of character and integrity, and instead they got a liar and alleged criminal."

Mr Greitens has frequently vowed that he will not step down. He indicated on Thursday he intends to stay and fight.

"This will not for a moment deter me from doing the important work of the great people of Missouri," Mr Greitens said in the statement.

The indictment states that on 21 March, 2015, Mr Greitens photographed a woman identified only by her initials "in a state of full or partial nudity" without her knowledge or consent. The indictment said Mr Greitens "transmitted the image contained in the photograph in a manner that allowed access to that image via a computer”.

Soon after the affair began, the woman's husband secretly recorded a conversation in which she said Mr Greitens took the compromising photo at his home and threatened to use it as blackmail if she spoke about the affair.

Mr Greitens has repeatedly denied blackmailing the woman, but has repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he took a photo.

Mr Greitens was taken into custody in St Louis and released on bond. He is due in court for his first hearing on 16 March, before circuit judge Rex Burlison. He could face up to a four-year sentence if convicted.

The statute of limitations for invasion of privacy in Missouri is three years, which means it was due to expire in less than a month.

Ms Ryan, asked if additional charges could be filed, said the matter is still under investigation. Several lawmakers were questioned last week by investigators from Ms Gardner's office.

Mr Greitens, the father of two young boys, came into office as a political outsider, a brash Rhodes Scholar and Navy SEAL officer who was wounded in Iraq, emerging as the winner in a crowded and expensive GOP primary.

A former boxer and martial arts expert, he has embraced the role of maverick. He responded to a Democratic attack ad in the fall of 2016 with one of his own in which he fired more than 100 rounds from a machine gun as an announcer declared he'd bring out "the big guns" to fight Democratic policies championed by then-President Barack Obama.

Mr Greitens surprised many experts by defeating Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster in the November 2016 election. Some saw him as a rising Republican star with potential presidential aspirations.

But governing hasn't always been easy, even though Republicans now control both houses as well as the governor's mansion. Mr Greitens and GOP lawmakers have often clashed, with him comparing some to third-graders and labelling them "career politicians”.

He has also faced questions about so-called "dark money" campaign contributions and criticism for stacking the state board of education. His use of a secretive app that deletes messages is under investigation by Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley.

Mr Greitens' charity, The Mission Continues, faced scrutiny during the campaign when Democrats accused him of insider politics for accessing the donor list to raise about $2 million through its top contributors.

Additional reporting by AP