Eric Greitens: The Warrior-Scholar Turned Governor

A Legacy of Service and Controversy

Eric Greitens, the 56th governor of Missouri, is a man of remarkable contradictions. On one hand, he is a decorated war hero, a Rhodes scholar, and a bestselling author. On the other hand, his political career has been marred by scandal, allegations of sexual misconduct, and campaign finance impropriety.

A Life of Service

Born on April 10, 1974, in St. Louis, Missouri, Greitens graduated from Duke University in 1996 and later earned a doctorate from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, as a Rhodes scholar. His academic pursuits were soon overshadowed by his military career, where he served as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer, commanding a unit targeting al-Qaeda and rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. During his four tours of duty, he was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

From Warrior to Governor

After leaving the military, Greitens founded The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans transition to civilian life. In 2013, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Following a brief stint as a White House fellow, Greitens turned to politics, announcing his conversion from Democrat to Republican in 2015. He ran for governor of Missouri as a Republican in 2016, defeating Democratic Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster in the general election.

Signature Accomplishments and Controversies

As governor, Greitens signed Missouri's right-to-work law, a signature accomplishment that was later repealed by statewide referendum. However, his tenure was soon overshadowed by allegations of sexual assault and campaign finance impropriety. In February 2018, Greitens was charged with felony invasion of privacy and later with campaign-related offenses. Although all charges were eventually dropped in May 2018, the damage to his reputation had already been done.

Fall from Grace

In April 2018, Greitens was indicted on felony charges of computer tampering, leading to his resignation from office on June 1, 2018, after the Missouri General Assembly commenced a special session to consider impeachment. The scandal surrounding his resignation was further fueled by allegations of sexual misconduct made by his former hairdresser, which were deemed credible by a bipartisan Special Investigative Committee in the Missouri state legislature.

A Legacy of Complexity

Today, Eric Greitens's legacy is a complex web of service, scandal, and controversy. While his military service and philanthropic work are undeniably admirable, his political career has been marred by allegations of misconduct and corruption. As the dust settles on his tumultuous tenure as governor, one thing is clear: Eric Greitens is a man of remarkable contradictions, a warrior-scholar whose legacy will be remembered for both its heroism and its hubris.