Eric Greitens

Eric Greitens, born on April 10, 1974, in St. Louis, is a multifaceted American politician, military officer, and writer. A member of the Republican Party, he made history as Missouri's first Jewish governor, serving from January 2017 until his resignation in June 2018. His tenure was marked by significant controversy, including investigations into allegations of an extramarital relationship, blackmail, and improper campaign finance practices, all of which led to his resignation but resulted in dropped criminal charges.

Greitens graduated from Duke University in 1996 and earned a doctorate from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, in 2000 as a Rhodes Scholar. His military career as a United States Navy SEAL officer included four tours of duty, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant commander and commanded a unit targeting al-Qaeda. His service earned him a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, and he was later recognized for his humanitarian efforts with awards such as the Gleitsman Citizen Activist Award from Harvard Kennedy School.

In 2013, Greitens founded The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting veterans, after serving as a White House fellow. His influence was acknowledged when Time magazine included him in its list of the one hundred most influential people in the world in 2013. Greitens entered the political arena in 2016, winning the Republican primary and defeating Democratic candidate Chris Koster in the general election.

His governorship included the signing of Missouri's right-to-work law, which was later repealed by a statewide referendum. However, his time in office was overshadowed by legal troubles, including felony charges related to privacy invasion and computer tampering, both of which were ultimately dropped. Following his resignation, Greitens attempted a political comeback in 2022 by running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Roy Blunt but lost in the Republican primary.