CHICAGO, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The governor of U.S. Missouri State Eric Greitens is facing increasing pressure to resign following his invasion of privacy charges in connection with an extramarital affair.
The first-degree felony invasion of privacy indictment filed by a grand jury on Thursday was related to an affair the Republican governor admitted to having in 2015, in which he allegedly took a picture of a bound and partially nude woman and threatened to blackmail her if she made the affair public, according to local media.
State senator Jamilah Nasheed, a Democrat, has called Greitens to resign and if not, the state legislature should immediately begin impeachment proceedings.
"Greitens has to go," she was quoted on Friday as saying. "Missourians thought they voted for a person of character and integrity, and instead they got a liar and alleged criminal. "
Eric Greitens, who took office in 2017, was taken into brief custody and bonded out on Thursday afternoon. His lawyer claimed that Greitens is "absolutely innocent" and will file a motion to dismiss the felony charge.
Even several fellow Republican lawmakers started to question if Greitens should remain as governor, whose actions they believe damaged the reputation of the governor's office.
Greitens, 43, was a U.S. Navy SEAL commando before becoming Missouri governor. On the accusations, he argued that he made a "mistake" but did not commit any "crime."
