Soniku
Mai's Tabloid Photographer
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2003
- Posts
- 2,128
"At a point in every person's life, one has to look into the mirror of a person's soul. ... My truth is that I am a gay American," McGreevey said during a press conference, with his wife by his side and his parents behind him.
McGreevey, a Democrat and former suburban mayor who became governor in 2002, disclosed that he had "shamefully engaged" in an affair with a man behind his wife's back but did not disclose who was involved. He said it was "wrong, foolish, inexcusable and for this I ask the forgiveness and the embrace of my wife."
Speculation swirled that McGreevey made the announcement to get in front of a civil suit, and in fact, McGreevey himself said that one reason to make the announcement was to prevent someone with knowledge of his sexuality and affair from exerting undue influence.
"Our sources indicate that this is a preemptive strike," said FOX News senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano.
The man involved in the affair, allegedly a former government employee, demanded "an exorbitant sum of money to make it go away," a high-ranking administration official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity. Cabinet members and administration officials learned of that threat Wednesday night, the source said.
ABC News identified the man as Golan Cipel, who was going to file the lawsuit Thursday afternoon in Mercer County, N.J.
According to Home News Tribune, a central New Jersey newspaper, Cipel left his job as a $110,000-a-year adviser to the governor on homeland security issues. Cipel resigned after Department of Homeland Security officials said they could not share information with Cipel, an Israeli national who came to the governor's office first as a liaison with the state's Jewish community.
Gay rights groups said it was unfortunate that McGreevey felt the need to resign.
“Being open about one’s sexual orientation in public life should not preclude them serving their communities or their country," said Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund (search), a political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly gay and lesbian public officials.
“It is unfortunate that the governor had such an affair while married. If the governor had been honest with his family, and perhaps with himself, he may have had the opportunity to serve the state of New Jersey openly. If none of these other issues were at play, the nation would today be ready for an openly gay or lesbian governor," Wolfe said.
Timing of Resignation Helps Democrats
State Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano, a Republican who had already filed to run in the 2005 gubernatorial primary, said that the GOP did not force McGreevey out.
"While I am disappointed in his public life, I am not interested in Governor McGreevey's, or anyone else's, private life. Any effort to blackmail the governor because of his private life is just plain wrong," DiGaetano said.
By delaying leaving office until Nov. 15, McGreevey insures that his Democratic successor will not have to face election for almost a year. Had he resigned effective immediately, his successor would have faced voters this November.
Since there is currently no lieutenant governor, his likely successor is Senate President Richard J. Codey (search), a Democrat from Essex County.
However, Rep. Bob Andrews (search), D-N.J., released a statement shortly after the governor's resignation that seemed to express a desire to become governor.
"We are living in a turbulent time for our state. I am prepared to serve the people of our state in whatever position I am entrusted to hold. This is a time for all New Jerseyans of all political persuasions to work together for the future of our state," Andrews said.
Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry is leading President Bush in New Jersey, but the polls show the race to be somewhat closer than expected. Some observers speculated that the Democratic Party may have encouraged McGreevey not to delay this news so that it would not drag Kerry down in the polls.
Second Governor to Resign This Year
The governor has been dogged by several scandals involving fund-raising.
Among those caught up in recent scandals were his first chief of staff and former counsel; a top Democratic fund-raiser and former high school classmate; and real estate developer Charles Kushner (search), McGreevey's biggest campaign contributor, who was charged with trying to thwart a federal campaign-finance investigation.
McGreevey is the second governor to resign in months, following the resignation in June of Connecticut GOP Gov. John Rowland (search) amid corruption investigations and threats of impeachment.
McGreevey, took office 2 1/2 years ago, and despite inheriting a $5 billion budget deficit, he steadfastly refused to boost income taxes for most New Jerseyans, instead raising taxes on millionaires, casinos and cigarettes.
The tax hike was deeply controversial, but the governor managed to defeat several Republican court challenges, although the increase remains in legal limbo.
"It was interesting the way he was able to divide the state and get the have nots to go against the haves," said Charles Payne, a resident of New Jersey and CEO of Wall Street Strategies.
McGreevey rose from suburban mayor to state chief executive by his tenacious efforts within party politics, maintaining a power base days after he narrowly lost to Republican Christie Whitman (search) in 1997.
McGreevey never truly stopped that campaign until he won in November 2001, beating Republican Bret Schundler by 15 percentage points.
Born in Jersey City, McGreevey graduated from Columbia University in 1978. He earned a law degree from Georgetown University in 1981 and a master's degree in education from Harvard University a year later.
After briefly serving as a county prosecutor, McGreevey became a lobbyist for a pharmaceutical company, then a state government official. While in the Legislature, McGreevey voted for Gov. Jim Florio's $2.8 billion tax hike that prompted a voter rebellion against Democrats.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source
Why the hell do I live here!?
I'm more upset about the corruption than I am about the fact that he cheated on his wife. 
