Lawmakers have determined that the testimony of a woman who had an affair with Republican Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens was credible, including her claims that some of the sexual encounters she had with Greitens were not consensual.
The woman’s testimony under oath before a Missouri House committee was detailed in a 25-page report released Wednesday as a bipartisan investigative committee is probing the allegations of sexual misconduct Greitens faces.
On one occasion, Greitens took the woman into the basement of his St. Louis home and taped her hands, blindfolded her, and took her clothes off, according to the woman. He then took photos of her without her consent and warned that the photos would become public if she shared their interaction with anyone, she said.
Additionally, he called her a “little whore,” according to the woman.
When the woman attempted to exit the basement, Greitens held her in a “bear hug,” placed her on the floor, and forced her to perform oral sex on him as she cried. The woman explained she believed performing oral sex on Greitens was the only option that would allow her to leave the basement.
The woman told the committee that she and Greitens had multiple sexual encounters — some were consensual and others were not. She also said he hit her several times.
The Missouri House investigative committee, which is comprised of five Republicans and two Democrats, have also received testimony from several of the woman’s friends and her ex-husband. The committee deemed the woman’s allegations credible.
Greitens, who has refused to resign from his post, admitted to the affair in January. However, he had rejected claims that he blackmailed the woman, who has not been identified publicly.
Prior to the report’s release, he accused the investigation of being a “political witch hunt” and said he believed it would contain “false” and “salacious accusations.”
“Let’s call this what it is: A political witch hunt now based on the testimony of someone who said under oath they may be remembering this through a dream,” Greitens said during a press conference before the report’s release.
“We expect that tonight’s report will be full of more false, outlandish, and salacious accusations,” he said.
Greitens, a former Navy SEAL who previously had been a Democrat, was elected governor as a Republican in 2016. The affair occurred in 2015 shortly before he was elected.
