Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

I didn't know, sez gov's ex
New York Daily News ^ | 8/15/04 | MAGGIE HABERMAN

Posted on 08/15/2004 7:37:15 AM PDT by kattracks

The first wife of New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey said yesterday she didn't know her ex was gay until last week.

"He told me just before he went on TV," Kari Schutz said in a phone interview from British Columbia.

Schutz described the call from her ex-husband as "difficult," although she declined to give details. But asked if she had any idea of her husband's sexual identity during their marriage, she said, "I never knew."

The governor's second wife, Dina Matos McGreevey, also didn't learn her husband was gay until just days ago, sources said. One source said that McGreevey first told Dina about his affair with a man last week, but it wasn't until Wednesday that he told her he was certain he was gay and was going to come out of the closet.

McGreevey took to the airwaves Thursday to say he had had an affair with a man he didn't identify, and that he was resigning the governorship, effective Nov. 15.

Schutz said she and her ex-husband had "discussions" about a brewing scandal involving former McGreevey aide Golan Cipel, since named as the other man in the affair, when she and their daughter, Morag, visited less than two weeks ago. It was unclear whether the governor had insisted the allegations weren't true at the time.

She and McGreevey have talked repeatedly since his bombshell announcement.

"We've been in touch with him," Schutz said. "And we're just wanting our privacy back, and we support him 100% and wish him well."

"He's a wonderful father," she added, noting that they have stayed in close touch with each other and that he sees their 11-year-old daughter often.

"My main concern is for my daughter," she said of the media maelstrom surrounding her family. But Shutz has nothing but good will toward her ex-husband.

"He's been a wonderful governor, and that's how people should remember him," she said.

McGreevey met Schutz, a librarian, on a cruise in 1990. They married in Canada and moved into a condominium in Woodbridge, N.J., where McGreevey became mayor. Schutz wasn't happy as a political wife and split for her native Canada in 1994 with Morag.

The divorce became final in 1997. Later, as he was running for governor, McGreevey took the unusual step of sealing the divorce records, with Schutz's permission.

Originally published on August 15, 2004



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: cipel; exwife; formerwife; gaygov; governor; mcgreevey; newjersey; nj; njgovernor; scandal; wife

1 posted on 08/15/2004 7:37:15 AM PDT by kattracks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: kattracks

Absolute BS. Lies, Lies, Lies.


2 posted on 08/15/2004 7:43:01 AM PDT by ikka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
I don't think he's gay. I dont doubt he's a perve, and loves em all, ya know a "switch hitter" but he married a pretty wife at least in part cuz he was attracted to her, (he had to be a lill attracted they made a baby and she thought there marriage was fine so they were doing stuff) It's just a guess but I think he came forward with "his truth" to cover something else up and draw attraction off that, and what ever it is it probably alot bigger.
3 posted on 08/15/2004 7:47:09 AM PDT by Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok (DNC- "We have made a clone. We shall call him Minnie Dukakis")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
The Daily News is mis-reporting or quoting out of context, as best I can figure. Kari has already been quoted in the Press as saying differently.

Trenton Times, yesterday:

Kari Schutz, McGreevey's first wife, conceded she has known for some time her husband is gay, though she declined to say exactly how long.

the shy librarian visited her parents on vacation with young daughter Morag in 1995 and never came back,

Schutz would put no time frame to the length of time she knew McGreevey was gay. She also would not comment on whether she was aware of anyone else with that knowledge holding it over his head to make demands.

"You'd better ask him that," Schutz said.

See FR Thead: Wives steadfastly pro-McGreevey

Actually, we've learned from other reports that Kari went back to Canada in December 1994, and the divorce proceeded in 1995.

As to Dani Matos not knowing? An exceeedingly unlikely thing for her not to know -- for she was an active politician herself at state and local levels -- and she lived in Elizabeth -- the next town over. Almost certain she would have been aware of the proclivity from the grapevine.

4 posted on 08/15/2004 7:53:52 AM PDT by bvw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks



I'm thinking of a really inappropriate joke I can't post here that begins "How do you know if you're roommate is gay?"

;^)


5 posted on 08/15/2004 7:58:17 AM PDT by Repairman Jack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok
I think your right, he swings both ways but now needs the support of the gay community as well as the sympathy it might evoke.

How would "I am a do-what-ever-feels-good at the moment kinda guy who can't say no because I have no self control or respect for others American" sound?

6 posted on 08/15/2004 8:03:39 AM PDT by fml ( You can twist perception, reality won't budge. -RUSH)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok

1. His current wife hasn't lived with him for the last two months, she's keeping a strong public face because McGreedy isn't financially secure, without the ability for him to make a sleazebag comeback like Torricelli, her alimony and child-support will dry up. She has known, from a minimum, from the date McGreedy broke his leg in 2002.

2. His EX Wife knew and has now, FOR OVER A DECADE. She is doing the same to protect the financial security of her daughter, and doesn't want the Dem. leaning goons to pay her a midnight visit.

3. Wish I was in Bangkok. Welcome to FR.


7 posted on 08/15/2004 8:58:57 AM PDT by JerseyHighlander
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: JerseyHighlander
well that blows up my theory.

Have been here ever been before? It's not bad a lill rainy this time a year, and with the tourist season(around jan-feb) comes a lot of perves but its a good place live, if ur willing to learn Thai, and the sea is pretty if don't mind militant Muslims shooting kids and teachers and blowing up places of worship(where is the country with the nice ones?, and the north is really pretty just watch out for deadly snakes and drug runners. But seriously I highly recommend it. Most of the people are great, everything is cheap, and the country is beautiful. Still Wish I was back in the states, have 2.5 yrs to go. I hope that Bush is still my Pres. when I get back.
8 posted on 08/15/2004 9:10:52 AM PDT by Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok (DNC- "We have made a clone. We shall call him Minnie Dukakis")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: kattracks

Dup post in same minute or so: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1191931/posts


9 posted on 08/15/2004 9:10:56 AM PDT by bvw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok
First, I don't buy this jazz about anyone not being able to curb their sexuality. If a gay person can say, "Look, I was born this way," why can't a pedophile say the very same thing. Why can't someone say the same thing who goes out and cheats on his wife. .Just blame creation. Say something like, "Sorry, hon, I have it in my genetic makeup that I am attracted to redheads."

Next I have to ask how someone becomes gay. Do they walk into a gay bar out of curiosity and find that they are attracted to the lifestyle? Seriously.

Many women I think become that way because they were dumped by their husbands or lured by brassy teammates/coaches in sports. But I have always wondered how some guys "discovered" (read: decided to become homosexual) this about themselves.

10 posted on 08/15/2004 9:21:36 AM PDT by Zechariah11 ("so they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Zechariah11
i agree i think the guy is just a perve. If i implied, or u inferd other wise, it was because i was just phrasing my statment to match the article. I think the real question as far as how it affects the state and possibly the nation is, why is he "comin out" now? its more than an affair, and a extortion or what ever i think its something bigger, but i could be wrong.
11 posted on 08/15/2004 9:29:52 AM PDT by Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok (DNC- "We have made a clone. We shall call him Minnie Dukakis")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
. . .McGreevey took the unusual step of sealing the divorce records, with Schutz's permission.

How many newspapers/TV stations will be going to court to have the records unsealed, as they did with Jack Ryan in Illinois?

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

12 posted on 08/15/2004 9:35:13 AM PDT by Mike Bates (Did I mention I'm peddling a book?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JerseyHighlander

Would someone spell out for me what the real deal is about the broken leg?


13 posted on 08/15/2004 2:01:18 PM PDT by thathamiltonwoman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: bvw

Nice research on the first wife's quote. That makes a lot more sense.


14 posted on 08/15/2004 7:22:18 PM PDT by NYCVirago
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NYCVirago

Maybe the divorce records are sealed for more than just dirty laudry -- maybe they reference a "keep your mouth shut" clause. The firsty Kari is quoted a number of times as saying "we keep the lines of communication open" -- I am taking that to mean she gets the monthly payment communicated to her account and she keeps not communicating on any matters McGreevey-esque. JMO.


15 posted on 08/15/2004 7:46:41 PM PDT by bvw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: bvw
Maybe the divorce records are sealed for more than just dirty laudry -- maybe they reference a "keep your mouth shut" clause. The firsty Kari is quoted a number of times as saying "we keep the lines of communication open" -- I am taking that to mean she gets the monthly payment communicated to her account and she keeps not communicating on any matters McGreevey-esque. JMO.

I think you're right on the money. If we had a real press, they would have gone to court to get the divorce records unsealed, like they did for Jack Ryan.

16 posted on 08/16/2004 2:14:19 PM PDT by NYCVirago
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson