Eric Robert Greitens was born on April 10, 1974, in St. Louis, Missouri.
In July 1981, jeweler Harry Klein was murdered during a robbery. Judy Henderson was convicted for her involvement, although authorities later believed her boyfriend was the actual shooter.
Eric Greitens graduated from Parkway North High School in 1992.
Eric Greitens graduated with an A.B. summa cum laude from Duke University in 1996.
Eric Greitens earned his M.Phil. degree in Development Studies from Oxford University in 1998.
Eric Greitens received his Ph.D. from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford in 2000, for his research on humanitarian aid efforts for children in war-torn regions.
Eric Greitens began his journey with the United States Navy by enrolling in the Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, in January 2001.
Eric Greitens successfully completed his Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, California, graduating with Class 237 in February 2002.
Eric Greitens's marriage to his first wife, Rebecca Wright, ended in divorce in 2003.
In 2005, Eric Greitens was chosen for a one-year White House fellowship by President George W. Bush. During this time, he focused on developing a program to engage architecture and engineering students in the rebuilding efforts in the South following Hurricane Katrina.
Eric Greitens embarked on a voluntary six-month tour in Iraq starting in October 2006.
Eric Greitens dedicated his time to The Mission Continues without receiving any compensation in 2007.
Eric Greitens received the President's Volunteer Service Award from President George W. Bush for his work at The Mission Continues in 2008.
Eric Greitens continued his work for The Mission Continues without pay throughout 2008.
Between the 2010 election cycle and early 2015, groups connected to David Langdon, the head of the SuperPAC that donated to Greitens' campaign, spent millions on various political campaigns, drawing scrutiny for their funding sources and activities.
Eric Greitens was named the Reader of the Year by Outside magazine in 2010.
Following a grant from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, Eric Greitens began receiving $150,000 in compensation from The Mission Continues, starting in mid-2010 and continuing through 2011.
Eric Greitens married Sheena Elise Chestnut in 2011.
Eric Greitens received $200,000 in compensation for his role at The Mission Continues in 2011.
In 2011, St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley was involved in the shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, an incident that later led to significant civil unrest upon Stockley's acquittal in 2017.
Eric Greitens was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Tufts University and received the Bronfman Prize in 2012.
Eric Greitens' compensation from The Mission Continues remained at $200,000 in 2012.
In 2012, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources rejected a grant application from Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia for playground improvements, prompting legal challenges.
Time magazine named Eric Greitens to its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2013.
Time magazine recognized Eric Greitens as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013.
In 2013, Eric Greitens made a cameo appearance in the film "Star Trek Into Darkness" and was featured in Joe Klein's book "Charlie Mike: A True Story of Heroes Who Brought Their Mission Home."
Eric Greitens continued to receive an annual compensation of $200,000 from The Mission Continues in 2013.
Eric Greitens stepped down from his position as CEO of The Mission Continues in 2014.
Eric Greitens was featured as one of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders by Fortune magazine in 2014.
On September 26, 2015, Greitens announced his candidacy for governor of Missouri as a Republican, pledging to increase transparency and reduce corruption in state politics.
After previously being a Democrat, Eric Greitens announced his switch to the Republican party in 2015.
Eric Greitens concluded his involvement with The Mission Continues by leaving the organization's board in 2015.
Governor Greitens engaged in an extramarital affair with his hairstylist in 2015.
In 2015, Eric Greitens had an extramarital affair with his hairstylist, who later accused him of coercion and sexual misconduct.
In 2015, Greitens publicly announced his switch from the Democratic to the Republican party, expressing disillusionment with the Democratic party's handling of veterans' affairs and their approach to governance.
In 2015, Greitens, while working on his book, received grant funds that would later be scrutinized for potential misuse for political purposes, sparking a controversy.
The closure of the Noranda smelter in March 2016 led to the drafting of the Missouri Steel Mill Bill, which aimed to prevent further job losses in the state's industrial sector.
Shortly before a campaign finance disclosure deadline on June 30, 2016, Greitens received a record $1.975 million donation from a SuperPAC, raising concerns about transparency and the source of the funds.
In October 2016, it was revealed that Greitens's campaign had acquired and used a donor list from The Mission Continues, a nonprofit he founded. This raised concerns about potential violations of campaign finance laws.
Greitens won the Missouri gubernatorial election on November 8, 2016, defeating Democrat Chris Koster.
In 2016, an anonymous group accused Greitens of exaggerating his military record in his books and public appearances. In response, Greitens released his military records and published testimonials from fellow SEALs and Marines.
In 2016, Eric Greitens ran for governor of Missouri. He did not receive an endorsement from Missouri Right to Life due to a $125,000 donation he accepted from embryonic stem cell researcher Julian Robertson.
Eric Greitens ran for the position of Governor of Missouri as a Republican candidate in 2016.
During his 2016 campaign for governor, Eric Greitens highlighted his experience working with children impacted by war and poverty in Cambodia, Bolivia, and Mother Teresa's homes.
Greitens officially took office as the governor of Missouri on January 9, 2017.
Eric Greitens was sworn in as the 56th governor of Missouri in January 2017.
In February 2017, over 170 gravestones were vandalized at the Chesed Shel Emeth Jewish Cemetery. Greitens and Vice President Mike Pence participated in the cleanup efforts.
In February 2017, Greitens signed a bill making Missouri a right-to-work state, a move that sparked strong opposition from unions.
In February 2017, Governor Greitens issued executive orders prohibiting executive branch employees from accepting lobbyist gifts and implemented a freeze on new regulations.
On March 12, 2017, major Missouri newspapers criticized Greitens for "secret fundraising and secret spending," contrasting his actions with his campaign promises of transparency.
In April 2017, Greitens admitted to utilizing the donor list from The Mission Continues for his campaign. However, he placed the blame on his then-campaign manager, a claim that the manager denied.
Governor Greitens appointed Jackson County Circuit Judge W. Brent Powell to the Missouri Supreme Court in April 2017.
On April 28, 2017, Greitens' campaign was fined $1,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for violating state campaign ethics rules related to campaign disclosure. Greitens accepted the fine.
In May 2017, Eric Greitens signed a 'Blue Alert' law modeled after the Amber Alert system to help apprehend individuals who commit violence against police officers. The law also enhanced penalties for assaults on law enforcement officers and created a new state crime for illegal reentry.
In May 2017, Greitens called a special legislative session to address the Missouri Steel Mill Bill after it stalled in the regular session. He held rallies to garner support for the bill.
In June 2017, Eric Greitens signed a wide-ranging anti-abortion measure into law at a private ceremony with legislators who sponsored the bill and anti-abortion lobbyists. The law required doctors to explain the risks of abortion 72 hours before performing the procedure, mandated annual inspections of abortion clinics, added whistle-blower protections for clinic employees, and heightened requirements for pathologists providing services to abortion facilities.
In June 2017, Governor Greitens signed the state's first Foster Care Bill of Rights, outlining measures to enhance the well-being of children in foster care.
On June 16, 2017, Greitens signed the Missouri Steel Mill Bill, aiming to revive the state's steel industry. The bill's passage followed a special legislative session called by Greitens and faced opposition in the Senate.
In December 2017, Greitens faced accusations from Democrats regarding potential violations of Missouri's open records laws. The controversy stemmed from the use of Confide, a messaging app that automatically deletes messages after they are read.
In December 2017, Eric Greitens commuted the life sentence of Judy Henderson, who had been imprisoned for 35 years for a 1981 robbery-murder. Greitens personally went to meet Henderson and signed the commutation papers, later granting her a pardon on his last day in office.
Governor Greitens publicly criticized Republican Senators Denny Hoskins and Paul Wieland for their votes allowing legislative pay raises, leading to tense exchanges.
In 2017, following the acquittal of St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley for the 2011 shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, protests erupted. Anticipating unrest, Eric Greitens activated the Missouri National Guard and scheduled 12-hour shifts for St. Louis police. He emphasized preserving the right to peaceful protest while prosecuting criminal activities.
In 2017, the Missouri Housing Development Commission voted to zero out the state's low-income housing tax credit for 2018. Eric Greitens participated in the vote by phone, arguing that special interests had abused the tax breaks to enrich themselves.
In 2017, Eric Greitens announced that the Missouri Army National Guard would add nearly 800 soldiers by 2019.
In 2017, Eric Greitens appointed Drew Juden as the director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, which oversees several state bodies including the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri National Guard.
In 2017, Eric Greitens granted a stay of execution to Marcellus Williams after DNA tests revealed the presence of an unknown male's DNA on the murder weapon. Greitens appointed a board of retired judges to investigate the case.
In 2017, Governor Greitens implemented cuts to state boards and commissions, sold government vehicles, and released biodiesel facility subsidies.
In 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Eric Greitens to the Council of Governors, an advisory group focused on national defense, the National Guard, and support to local authorities.
In 2017, following Eric Greitens's appointments to the commission and the subsequent vote, Missouri did not issue $140 million in low-income housing tax credits. Greitens accused the low-income housing industry of conspiring to derail his political career through legal troubles and the threat of impeachment.
On January 10, 2018, Governor Greitens admitted to an extramarital affair that occurred in 2015, releasing a joint statement with his wife.
In February 2018, then-Governor Eric Greitens announced that members of the Missouri National Guard would participate in a training program with the Israeli Home Front Command, focusing on civilian protection during crises.
In February 2018, Eric Greitens faced charges of felony invasion of privacy, followed by charges related to campaign offenses.
On February 22, 2018, a St. Louis grand jury indicted Governor Greitens on felony invasion of privacy charges, leading to his release on his own recognizance.
In March 2018, The Associated Press reported allegations that Greitens had used a charity's email account for political meetings during his gubernatorial campaign and potentially violated campaign finance laws.
In March 2018, Attorney General Hawley cleared Greitens of any wrongdoing related to the Sunshine Law investigation. However, this decision faced criticism from Democrats who questioned the thoroughness of the investigation.
On April 11, 2018, a Missouri House committee published a report with allegations against Greitens, including blackmail, physical abuse, and sexual misconduct.
Governor Greitens signed legislation in April 2018 allowing members of the Missouri National Guard and armed forces reserves to deduct their military income from state taxes.
Eric Greitens was indicted on felony charges related to computer tampering in April 2018.
In April 2018, Attorney General Josh Hawley's office concluded their investigation and found evidence supporting the allegations that Greitens's campaign had violated campaign finance laws by using the donor list from The Mission Continues.
On April 30, 2018, the Special Investigative Committee chair released a report dismissing Greitens' defenses against the allegations as unsubstantiated.
The felony invasion of privacy charge against Greitens was dropped on May 14, 2018, due to lack of evidence.
All charges against Eric Greitens, including felony invasion of privacy and computer tampering, were dropped in May 2018.
Both charges against Greitens were dropped in May 2018 after investigations.
In May 2018, following Greitens's resignation, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office made the decision to dismiss the computer tampering charge against him. Gardner explained that while she believed there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges, it was not in the best interest of the city or state.
Greitens announced his resignation as Governor, effective June 1, 2018, following a deal with the St. Louis prosecutor's office to drop felony charges related to campaign finances.
Facing potential impeachment by the Missouri General Assembly, Eric Greitens resigned from his position as Governor on June 1, 2018.
Amidst allegations of sexual assault and campaign finance impropriety, Eric Greitens resigned from his position as the Governor of Missouri in June 2018.
In June 2018, Representative Jay Barnes accused Greitens of potential criminal fraud and literary fraud related to a book and grant. Barnes claimed Greitens misrepresented his work on the book, used grant funds for political purposes, and failed to disclose income sources.
Following the dismissal of charges against him, Greitens' lawyers filed a complaint against William Tisaby, an investigator in the case, alleging misconduct.
On August 7, 2018, Missouri voters overturned a right-to-work law signed by Greitens in February 2017, following a union-led referendum.
In August 2018, Mike Parson, Eric Greitens's successor, ousted Drew Juden, the director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety appointed by Greitens.
In November 2018, an audit was requested for the Missouri Department of Public Safety covering Drew Juden's tenure. The audit found issues with state contracting processes and misuse of annual leave and a state vehicle.
A statewide referendum in November 2018 resulted in significant restrictions on lobbyist gifts in Missouri.
In December 2018, a lawsuit was filed challenging the use of ephemeral messaging apps by government officials, arguing that it violated Missouri's public records laws.
On December 28, 2018, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley dropped the investigation into allegations that Greitens had misused a charity's email account and donor list for political purposes.
On December 31, 2018, the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight released its final report on Greitens, revealing findings of an off-the-books gubernatorial campaign and dishonesty regarding a charity donor list.
In 2018, the Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight released a report that found the hairstylist's accusations against Greitens to be credible.
In 2018, Eric Greitens issued an executive order to establish a prescription drug monitoring program aimed at combating the opioid epidemic. Although widely praised for addressing the issue, the program faced criticism for not being operational three months after the order.
In 2018, Eric Greitens proposed an $800 million package of state tax cuts. This included a 10% reduction in the top individual state income tax rate from 5.9% to 5.3%, and a reduction in the state corporate income tax rate from 6.25% to 4.25%, which would give Missouri the nation's second-lowest corporate rate. Additionally, he proposed a non-refundable state tax credit for low-income workers and the application of Missouri sales tax to online purchases for the first time.
In 2018, Eric Greitens was featured in the Netflix documentary film 'Reversing Roe,' which explores the history of abortion rights in the United States.
In 2018, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley initiated an investigation into Greitens' 2016 campaign financing, following concerns about transparency and potential violations.
In 2018, following the 2017 vote by the Missouri Housing Development Commission, the state did not issue low-income housing tax credits, effectively eliminating the program for that year.
In January 2019, Eric Greitens, who was in the Individual Ready Reserve at the time, sought to be reinstated to the Navy's Selected Reserve despite facing resistance from Navy officials due to allegations of sexual assault.
On June 2, 2019, Greitens returned to the U.S. Navy as a Naval Reserve Officer following his resignation as governor.
William Tisaby was indicted in June 2019 on charges of perjury and evidence tampering related to his investigation of Greitens.
The grand jury investigating the Greitens case concluded its proceedings in July 2019 without issuing further indictments, although investigations into other individuals continued.
In 2019, an audit report was released, revealing that the Missouri Department of Public Safety under Drew Juden had abused the state contracting process and misused state resources.
By 2019, the Missouri Army National Guard had added nearly 800 soldiers, fulfilling the expansion plan announced by Eric Greitens in 2017.
In 2019, Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ruled in favor of Greitens, dismissing the lawsuit concerning the use of ephemeral messaging apps.
On April 11, 2020, Eric and Sheena Greitens announced the end of their marriage. During their 2022 child custody case, Sheena Greitens accused him of physical abuse.
Eric Greitens and Sheena Elise Chestnut ended their marriage in 2020.
In 2020, Greitens announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Missouri, aiming to succeed the retiring Roy Blunt.
In 2020, the Missouri Ethics Commission determined that there was probable cause to believe Greitens's 2016 gubernatorial campaign had violated campaign finance laws. The violations involved coordination with and unreported in-kind contributions from "dark money" groups.
Eric Greitens resigned from his commission in the Navy Reserve on May 1, 2021, two months after launching his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
In October 2021, Governor Mike Parson, Greitens' successor, restructured several state agencies, replacing some directors and transferring others.
In 2021, the Missouri Senate recodified the prescription drug monitoring program initially ordered by Eric Greitens in 2018. Governor Mike Parson signed it into law, making Missouri no longer the only state without such a program.
Greitens expressed his opposition to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, labeling it as "irresponsible socialist legislation" while voicing his support for the continued construction of the Keystone Pipeline.
In March 2022, Tisaby entered a guilty plea for misdemeanor evidence tampering, receiving a sentence of one year of unsupervised probation, admitting to withholding evidence in the Greitens case.
In March 2022, following allegations of physical abuse from his ex-wife, Greitens faced mounting pressure from within the Republican party to withdraw from the Senate race.
In April 2022, Gardner admitted to misconduct during the Greitens investigation before the Missouri Office of Disciplinary Counsel. She attributed her errors to the fast-paced nature of the investigation and agreed to a reprimand.
In June 2022, Greitens released a campaign advertisement that sparked widespread condemnation and was widely perceived as promoting violence. The ad featured Greitens and armed men entering a house with guns drawn, and included language urging viewers to "get a RINO hunting permit," using a derogatory term for Republicans deemed insufficiently conservative.
In June 2022, a new development in the Senate race emerged as a Republican-funded anti-Greitens super PAC, "Show Me Values PAC," was established. This group quickly began running attack ads against Greitens.
By late July 2022, "Show Me Values PAC" had invested a substantial sum, $6.2 million, in airing ads opposing Greitens's candidacy.
In August 2022, a Missouri judge found "no pattern of domestic violence" by Eric Greitens and ruled to move the custody case to Texas.
Eric Greitens attempted a political comeback in 2022 by running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Roy Blunt, but he lost in the Republican primary.
In 2022, Eric Greitens called the overturning of Roe v. Wade a 'huge victory.' This statement aligns with his long-standing opposition to abortion and embryonic stem cell research.
In 2022, Missouri Right to Life, a significant anti-abortion organization in the state, endorsed Eric Greitens's U.S. Senate campaign. This endorsement came despite previous condemnation from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.
In 2022, during a child custody case, Sheena Greitens made allegations of physical abuse against Eric Greitens in a sworn affidavit.