Rauner Yanks Ad Featuring Governor Accused Of Sexual Blackmail

CHICAGO, IL — After months of repeated airing, a political ad from Gov. Bruce Rauner's campaign has been pulled from the internet and will no longer be broadcast. The move follows allegations of sexual misconduct and blackmail against Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens.

Since October, TV viewers across the state have been seeing plenty of a spot featuring three Midwestern Republican governors sarcastically praising Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan for "blocking Rauner's reforms."

The heavily repeated ad was one of the top five most-aired political ads in the country, according to ad spending data cited by Politico. Rauner's campaign spent more than $1.3 million to air the ad over 3,100 times.

Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, is one of the governors in the ad. He was elected to his first term as governor in 2016 and issued a statement Wednesday admitting to having an affair prior to taking office.

"This was a deeply personal mistake. Eric took responsibility, and we dealt with this together honestly and privately," Greitens and his wife, Sheena, said in a joint statement. "While we never would have 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."

His admission did not address specific allegations of misconduct made in recent reports, including one broadcast this week by KMOV-TV. The report includes an alleged recording of the woman with whom Greitens admitted an affair, made without her knowledge by her ex-husband.

In her account, he blindfolded the woman and bound her hands before taking a photo and issuing a threat.

"You're never going to mention my name, otherwise there will be pictures of [you] everywhere," the woman recalled.

The alleged misconduct took place in 2015, prior to Greiten, now 43, running for governor.

On Thursday, a St. Louis prosecutor said an investigation into possible criminal offenses has been opened.

"The serious allegations against Missouri Governor Eric Greitens are very troubling. After further consideration, I have decided to launch a formal investigation into the alleged actions of Governor Greitens," announced St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Garnder.

"It is essential for residents of the City of St. Louis and our state to have confidence in their leaders. They must know that the Office of the Circuit Attorney will hold public officials accountable in the same manner as any other resident of our city," she said, asking anyone with any information about the matter to contact her office. "Both parties and the people of St. Louis deserve a thorough investigation of these allegations."

» More: Missouri Governor Accused Of Blackmailing Mistress, Admits Affair

Democrats demanded Rauner reject Greiten's endorsement and asked that he promise to stop using him in ads. The campaign of Democratic front-runner J.B. Pritzker questioned why Rauner's campaign was "remaining silent" about the embattled Missouri governor.

“Eric Greitens is accused of engaging in disgusting conduct that disqualifies him from holding public office, but will Bruce Rauner call for his resignation?” said spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh.

Prior to producing the advertisement, Rauner and his wife donated $100,000 to Greiten's campaign in September 2016, records show.

His campaign said the ad had already been off television. It has been replaced by a new ad featuring audio from phone conversations between Pritzker and convicted ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a Rauner campaign spokesperson.

_{Top photo: Eric Greitens from Gov. Bruce Rauner's political ad, via YouTube}