A former staffer who had an affair with California Governor Gavin Newsom over 20 years ago has come forward with new details about the relationship. Ruby Rippey, who was Newsom’s appointments secretary at the time, wrote an essay for Vanity Fair criticizing Newsom’s characterization of the affair in his memoir.
Background of the Affair
The affair took place in 2005, when Newsom was the mayor of San Francisco. Rippey was married to Newsom’s campaign manager, Alex Tourk. Newsom had filed for divorce from his wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, before the affair began. The relationship was an early political stumbling block for Newsom, who later held a news conference to apologize for his actions.
Rippey’s essay traces the start of the affair to the summer of 2005, a period when she was struggling with alcohol addiction. She notes that the #MeToo movement, which began in 2017, helped her understand the power imbalance in their relationship. Rippey writes that she is responsible for her actions, but also acknowledges that the power dynamic played a role in the affair.
Response from Newsom’s Team
A spokesperson for Newsom responded to Rippey’s essay, stating that the governor had acknowledged his role in the affair and publicly apologized nearly two decades ago. The spokesperson added that Newsom has since moved on with his life, marrying Jennifer Siebel Newsom and starting a family.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
