In Missouri, Republican Governor Eric Greitens is refusing to resign, after a report commissioned by the state’s Republican-led Legislature found he sexually assaulted and physically abused a woman, before blackmailing her to cover up his crime. The report cited a woman whose name was withheld, who says Greitens repeatedly groped her, slapped her across the face, coerced her into sex and verbally abused her. Speaking just before the report’s release Wednesday, Governor Greitens insisted its findings were “tabloid trash” and “gossip.”

Gov. Eric Greitens: “We fully expect that the report being released tonight will include lies and falsehoods. I want to say again what I’ve said from the beginning: This is a political witch hunt.”

Governor Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, faces a felony charge of invasion of privacy at a trial scheduled for next month. Missouri’s Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson called Wednesday for Governor Greitens to resign, and the state’s top Democrat said lawmakers should begin impeachment proceedings if he doesn’t step down.