KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The FBI has opened an inquiry into Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, according to a report from CNN.
Governor Greitens is currently facing allegations that he blackmailed a woman he had an affair with in 2015. The governor denies those accusations.
CNN cites two unnamed U.S. officials as their source for the news. The FBI did not confirm or deny the investigation.
Late Friday night, Governor Greitens' attorney, Jim Bennett, sent a statement to 41 Action News responding to the report.
“I have notified CNN that this story should be retracted. Without getting into the details, it is sufficient to say the named source has a history of profane and aberrant behavior toward people associated with Governor Greitens dating back to last year to such a degree that Governor Greitens’ press secretary had to block his calls and other members of the Missouri Republican Party staff felt threatened to the degree that senior leadership attempted to intervene with his family.”
To repeat what I have already stated: We have seen no indication of an FBI investigation, see no matter that is worthy of such an investigation, and do not believe that one exists. Any suggestion based on CNN’s reporting that an investigation exists would not be accurate. Governor Greitens has not been contacted at any time by the FBI and we are not aware of any interest by the FBI. To be clear: we do not believe that an FBI investigation exists - not on this personal topic from three years ago or any other.”
On Saturday morning, a CNN spokesperson told 41 Action News, CNN stands by its reporting.
The St. Louis circuit attorney has already launched an investigation to determine if Governor Greitens committed crimes linked to the affair.
After news of the affair broke, several lawmakers called for the Governor to resign. However, on Friday, a Greitens spokesman called rumors that he would hand in his resignation by the end of the day "completely false."
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
