The stunning rise and fall of Eric Greitens

Four months defending an alleged blackmail and sex scandal came to a head Tuesday in Jefferson City, when Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens announced he would officially step down from the post this Friday.

An afternoon news conference was called abruptly and Greitens addressed the media for about four minutes, fielding no questions before exiting. Read a transcript of his speech posted by the News Tribune in Jefferson City. 

After Greitens resignation speech, a national correspondent for Yahoo News recounted how Greitens was a potential Republican presidential candidate.

“Politicians rise and fall, but it is difficult to think of an ascent as swift, or a downfall as brutal, as that of Gov. Eric Greitens of Missouri,” Alexander Nazaryan wrote in his analysis. 

He noted the former Navy Seal and Rhodes Scholar “looked defiant, striking repeated notes of self-pity.”

As Greitens left the podium on Tuesday, Nazaryan said someone from the audience shouted, “Governor, did you take the photo?” Greitens did not respond to the reference of an alleged compromising photograph of a woman with whom Greitens has acknowledged he had an extramarital affair prior to his election.

“I have not broken any laws,” Greitens said during the press conference.

Read more from Yahoo News.