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Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens indicted on felony invasion of privacy charge

 
FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2018, file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens speaks in Palmyra, Mo. A St. Louis grand jury has indicted Greitens on a felony invasion of privacy charge related to the Republican's affair with a woman in 2015. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the indictment Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. She launched an investigation in January after Greitens admitted to an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015. He was elected governor in November 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) CER204
FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2018, file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens speaks in Palmyra, Mo. A St. Louis grand jury has indicted Greitens on a felony invasion of privacy charge related to the Republican's affair with a woman in 2015. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the indictment Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. She launched an investigation in January after Greitens admitted to an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015. He was elected governor in November 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) CER204
Published Feb. 22, 2018

A St. Louis grand jury has indicted Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens on a felony invasion of privacy charge related to the Republican's affair with a woman in 2015.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the indictment Thursday. She launched an investigation in January after Greitens admitted to an affair with his St. Louis hairdresser that began in March 2015. He was elected governor in November 2016.

The woman told her husband, who was secretly taping the conversation, that Greitens took a compromising photo of her at his home and threatened to use it as blackmail if she spoke about the affair. A news release from Gardner says it is a felony if a person transmits an image "in a manner that allows access to that image via a computer."

Greitens' attorney says the charge against the Republican is "baseless and unfounded."

Lawyer Edward Dowd on Thursday said the governor is "absolutely innocent" in response to Gardner's announcement.

Dowd in a statement said Greitens will file a motion to dismiss the charges.

A news release from Gardner says it is a felony if a person transmits an image "in a manner that allows access to that image via a computer."