New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay
McGreevey announces resignation after telling of affair
Friday, August 13, 2004 Posted: 8:04 AM EDT (1204 GMT)
(CNN) -- Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday after revealing that he is gay and that he had an adulterous affair with a man.
With his wife standing by his side, McGreevey -- a father of two -- spoke in calm tones as he described his struggle with his sexuality, "a certain sense that separated me from others." It was something that he said began as a child.
"At a point in every person's life, one has to look deeply into the mirror of one's soul and decide one's unique truth in the world, not as we may want to see it or hope to see it, but as it is," McGreevey said.
"And so, my truth is that I am a gay American," the Democrat said.
McGreevey's surprise resignation came as Golan Cipel, a former security aide to the governor, had readied a sexual harassment lawsuit against the governor, two Democratic sources told CNN. Cipel resigned his post in 2002.
A third Democratic source, who had spoken throughout the day with a top aide to the governor, told CNN it is unclear whether Cipel will proceed with the lawsuit now that McGreevey has announced his resignation.
CNN has made repeated attempts to reach Cipel for comment.
Speaking at a packed news conference in the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey, McGreevey admitted to an affair with a man and asked for his family's forgiveness.
"It was wrong. It was foolish. It was inexcusable," he said.
And McGreevey said he was stepping down from the state's highest office.
"Given the circumstances surrounding the affair and its likely impact upon my family and my ability to govern, I have decided the right course of action is to resign," McGreevey said.
His resignation will take effect November 15, and State Senate President Richard Codey, a fellow Democrat, will serve the the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2006