JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens acknowledges he was "unfaithful" in his marriage but denies allegations that he blackmailed the woman he had an extramarital affair with to stay quiet. 
 
 The Republican governor and his wife released a statement Wednesday night. It came after St. Louis television station KMOV reported that Greitens had a sexual relationship with his former hairdresser in 2015. The station reported that the woman's ex-husband alleged Greitens photographed her nude and threatened to publicize the images if she spoke about the affair. 
 
 The woman allegedly involved did not comment on the record to the station, which released its report late Wednesday after Greitens gave his State of the State speech. But her ex-husband provided a recording of her detailing a sexual encounter with Greitens and saying Greitens told her the photos would be released if she exposed the affair. She did not know she was being recorded. 
 
 Greitens' statement with his wife, Sheena, didn't address the affair specifically or the allegations, but in a separate statement Greitens' attorney, Jim Bennett, said, "There was no blackmail and that claim is false." ||||| Just hours after Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens delivered his second State of the State address, he acknowledged that he was involved in an affair before he launched his campaign for governor in the fall of 2015. 
 
 Greitens and his wife, Sheena Greitens, issued joint statements late Wednesday through their lawyer after St. Louis television station KMOV-TV (Channel 4) reported on the matter. 
 
 KMOV featured an anonymous interview with the ex-husband of the St. Louis area woman allegedly involved. She was married at the time of the affair, as was Greitens. 
 
 “A few years ago, before Eric was elected governor, there was a time when he was unfaithful in our marriage,’’ Greitens’ statement said. “It was a deeply personal mistake.” 
 
 “Eric took responsibility, and we dealt with this honestly and privately,” the statement continued. “While we would have never wished for this pain in our marriage, or the pain that this has caused others, with God’s mercy, Sheena has forgiven and we have emerged stronger. 
 
 “We understand that there will be some people who will not forgive,’’ the statement concluded. “But for those who can find it in your heart, Eric asks for your forgiveness, and we are grateful for your love, your compassion and your prayers.” 
 
 In a separate note, Sheena Greitens added, “We have a loving marriage and an awesome family, anything beyond that is between us and God. I want the media and those who wish to peddle gossip to stay away from me and my children.” 
 
 The TV report included allegations that Greitens threatened to blackmail the woman, to keep the affair secret. His lawyer, James Bennett issued a statement late Wednesday disputing KMOV's account. 
 
 "The governor has now seen the TV report that ran tonight. The station declined to provide the tape or transcript in advance of running their story, which contained multiple false allegations," Bennett said. "The claim that this nearly three-year old story has generated or should generate law enforcement interest is completely false. There was no blackmail and that claim is false. This personal matter has been addressed by the Governor and Mrs. Greitens privately years ago when it happened. The outrageous claims of improper conduct regarding these almost three-year-ago events are false." 
 
 The matter could affect Greitens’ national aspirations, since his GOP campaign for governor in 2016 promoted, in part, his character and his belief in family values. 
 
 Follow Jo on Twitter: @jmannies ||||| FILE - In this May 17, 2018 file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens looks on before speaking at an event near the capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this May 17, 2018 file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens looks on before speaking at an event near the capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations against Greitens have been shared with federal authorities by both a private attorney and... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this May 17, 2018 file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens looks on before speaking at an event near the capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations against Greitens have been shared with federal authorities by both a private attorney and... (Associated Press) FILE - In this May 17, 2018 file photo, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens looks on before speaking at an event near the capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations... (Associated Press) 
 
 JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — After the revelation in January that Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens had an extramarital affair with his former hairdresser before he took office, the first-term Republican faced a series of investigations and charges. Here's a look at some of the significant moments that led to Greitens' announcement Tuesday that he was resigning: 
 
 Jan. 10 — Hours after Greitens delivers his State of the State speech, St. Louis television station KMOV broadcasts a story featuring a conversation secretly recorded between the governor's former hairdresser and her then-husband in 2015 in which she is heard saying she had a sexual encounter with Greitens. She says he took a photo of her while she was partially nude and threatened to release it if she exposed their relationship. Greitens issues a statement admitting to having an affair but calling it consensual and denying blackmail. 
 
 Feb. 22 — A grand jury in St. Louis indicts the governor on a felony invasion of privacy charge for taking and transmitting the alleged photo. Greitens' attorney says the charge is "baseless and unfounded." 
 
 March 1 — The Republican-led Missouri House forms a bipartisan committee to investigate Greitens. On the same day, Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley opens an inquiry into The Mission Continues, a veterans charity Greitens founded. A key issue is Greitens' use of a charity donor list for his political campaign. 
 
 March 14 — A Democratic consultant files an ethics complaint alleging that Greitens falsely reported how his campaign obtained The Mission Continues' donor list and failed to disclose that it also got the charity's email list. 
 
 April 11 — The House investigatory committee releases a graphic report that details instances in which Greitens' former hairdresser says he slapped, spanked, shoved, grabbed and called her derogatory names during a series of sexual encounters in 2015. The committee finds her testimony credible. Greitens says the report is part of a "witch hunt." The woman's name never has been officially released; it is redacted from the legislative documents and she is identified only by her initials in court filings. 
 
 April 17 — Hawley announces that Greitens may have committed a felony by taking The Mission Continues' donor list and using it for political fundraising without the charity's permission. Hawley turned his evidence over to St. Louis prosecutors. 
 
 April 20 — St. Louis prosecutors charge Greitens with a felony of tampering with computer data for allegedly disclosing The Mission Continues' donor list to his political fundraiser in 2015 without the permission of the St. Louis-based charity. Greitens says the allegations are "ridiculous" and resists calls to resign. 
 
 May 2 — The House investigatory committee releases a second report that indicates that Greitens originally received The Mission Continues' donor list so he could call key supporters of the charity and explain that he was stepping down as CEO in 2014. However, the report says Greitens directed political aides to work off the list to raise money for his campaign — even though he had signed an agreement to not disclose the charity's confidential donor information. The report also indicates that Greitens' campaign later lied in campaign finance reports about how it got the list. 
 
 May 3 — Republican leaders in the Missouri House and Senate announce they have enough signatures to call a special legislative session to consider disciplinary actions against Greitens that could include impeachment. 
 
 May 14 — Three days into jury selection in Greitens' trial on the felony invasion of privacy charge, prosecutors abruptly drop the charge after the court rules that St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner would be questioned and might have to testify at the trial with Greitens' attorneys attacking her handling of the case. Greitens declares an initial victory, but Gardner says she plans to pursue the case, either through a special prosecutor or an appointed assistant. 
 
 May 18 — State lawmakers convene a special session to consider whether to initiate impeachment proceedings against Greitens. The session could last up to 30 days. 
 
 May 21 — A judge appoints a special prosecutor, Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, to decide whether to refile the invasion of privacy case against Greitens. 
 
 May 29 — Greitens announces that he's resigning as of 5 p.m. Friday, June 1.
– Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens acknowledges he was "unfaithful" in his marriage but denies allegations that he blackmailed the woman he had an affair with to stay quiet, the AP reports. The Republican governor and his wife, Sheena, released a joint statement Wednesday night after KMOV reported that Greitens had a sexual relationship with his former hairdresser in 2015. The station reported that the woman's ex-husband alleged Greitens photographed her nude and threatened to publicize the images if she spoke about the affair. "A few years ago, before Eric was elected governor, there was a time when he was unfaithful in our marriage," the Greitens' statement said. "It was a deeply personal mistake." The woman allegedly involved did not comment on the record to KMOV, which released its report late Wednesday after Greitens gave his State of the State speech. But her ex-husband, who divorced her in 2016, provided a recording of her detailing a sexual encounter with Greitens and saying Greitens told her the photos would be released if she exposed the affair. She did not know she was being recorded. Greitens' statement with his wife didn't address the affair specifically or the allegations, but in a separate statement, Greitens' attorney, Jim Bennett, said, "There was no blackmail and that claim is false." St. Louis Public Radio notes that the news could damage Greitens' higher political aspirations, especially since his 2016 campaign focused on character and family values.