Posted on 08/18/2004 11:13:44 AM PDT by pookie18
NEW YORK - Golan Cipel, the Israeli who maintains that the governor of New Jersey sexually harassed him and fired him from his position of adviser when he rejected the governor's advances, appears agitated at first. Overnight, he has become one of the most sought-after interviewees in the American media, but now he has difficulty speaking. Wearing a green polo shirt and jeans, Cipel occasionally looks as if he might break into tears at any moment.
Faced with the intention of Cipel's attorney Allen M. Lowy to file a sexual harassment suit, Governor James McGreevey publicly announced on Thursday that he is homosexual, and that he intended to resign his position effective November 15. Since the affair broke, the media have been rife with claims that Cipel and Lowy are attempting to blackmail the governor. Published figures are impressive, if not consistent: $2 million for their silence, $20 million, even $50 million.
Lowy and Cipel deny these reports, but for now the governor's publicity machine is working more effectively than that of Cipel and Lowy. Meanwhile, at least according to the man in the street, the governor and his team have scored more points - a lot more points. The public, indeed, appears convinced that the governor has been blackmailed.
This is not the first time that the media have scrutinized Cipel. He first came under attack when he was appointed McGreevey's internal security adviser. Critics concluded that he lacked the experience for the job, and the connection between the American governor and the Israeli adviser raised eyebrows, to say the least.
In an interview with Haaretz before returning to Israel on Monday, Cipel said he is in the throes of the most difficult period in his life.
"On one hand, I feel excruciating pain, frustration and fear," he says. "On the other hand, I am relieved that it all came out. When you are the subject of sexual harassment, you can't just forget about it and run away. I tried. I went from denial to escape and from escape to depression. And it didn't end. It's like a black hole. You are drawn in and can't get out. I understood that I had to cope with the problem, particularly because such a powerful man was involved."
Cipel says that he now lives as if he is in "confinement." According to him, "The media is waiting for me at every turn, but I also get a lot of support from friends and individuals - male and female - who were victims of sexual harassment. The message that I want to give them is that you must not give in or live in denial when you are sexually harassed."
Cipel and McGreevey met four years ago at a meeting of New Jersey mayors and politicians in Israel. Cipel was then spokesman for the city of Rishon Letzion, and McGreevey was mayor of Woodbridge. Impressed with Cipel's knowledge of American politics, McGreevey invited him to work on his gubernatorial campaign. Cipel felt fortunate - McGreevey was charismatic, charming, serious, and professional.
"I went to the U.S. and met with McGreevey," he recalled. "After a few months, I went out to New Jersey to work on the campaign. I was employed in a half-time position as the liaison with the local Jewish community."
Cipel filled out this part-time employment with a part-time position with Jewish real estate developer Charles Kushner.
"When the campaign ended," Cipel said, "I thought I would continue in the private sector, but McGreevey asked me to work with him. He was impressed with the strategic and communication skills that I displayed, and offered me a job in the communications department. That was the natural place for me. But because of objections within the department, I didn't get the position. Then he suggested that I assist him in several areas: as liaison with the Jewish community, in public relations, and as liaison to the authorities in charge of internal security."
You have been criticized because you became McGreevey's internal security adviser. Questions were raised about your being an Israeli in the position, and it was said that you did not have the necessary skill.
Cipel: "I was not, under any circumstances, responsible for internal security under the governor," insists Cipel. "I was responsible for the relationship between the governor's office and the attorney general who deals with the issue, and also the Department of Homeland Security. For example, when people wanted to arrange a meeting, I was supposed to arrange it. I did not participate in confidential meetings, nor did I receive classified documents. There was a woman in the office responsible for the war against terror and internal security. When I met her, I told her, in no uncertain terms, `I am not an expert. My job is to make your life easier.' That's also what I told the state attorney general and his deputy.
"It was after September 11. I saw the Twin Towers collapse and it really affected me. The Americans were confused and frustrated, and it was clear that things had to change immediately. During that period, I was able to identify all sorts of security breaches - problems that any Israeli would identify, even a sergeant in the IDF. Then, out of sincere concern, I brought these problems to the attention of the responsible bodies. During the new governor's transitional period, it became clear that there was a need to cooperate with foreign advisers, like Britons and Israelis. My intention was really to bring in Israeli experts who could help them learn the subject. And we really did bring in Israeli advisers."
You received the very high salary of $110,000 a year.
"The governor gave me the very high rank of adviser, and that was the salary. I dealt with strategy related to certain projects. Bottom line, I was involved in a great deal of public relations. I was connected to a lot of people in various fields, besides the media themselves."
In any case, you were presented as an internal security adviser. Haaretz also published reports that your description of your military experience in your curriculum vitae was an exaggeration.
"When I saw that the New Jersey driver's license was a piece of paper, I told the relevant authorities that it could easily be counterfeited, and that it should be replaced with something more trustworthy. You don't have to be a military expert to bring up something like that. The governor was impressed and told the press about the Israeli guy who advised him on this matter. That immediately sparked media curiosity. The press started asking questions. The governor asked me to write a description of my military background. I wrote a few points down on paper. For example, that I was a naval officer. Then I added all sorts of general things that any officer in the IDF does, like `abach' - unconventional weapons training and basic training.
"The document was not written to be a CV, but it was mistakenly presented as such to the media. I still have a hard time understanding who spread the story that I am a security expert. The impression was created that I was responsible for internal security under the auspices of the governor. Then, when they examined whether or not I am an expert in internal security and terror, the conclusion, of course, was that I am not. I could assist in creating ties with the Israeli government, but my experience in the field is very limited. The governor knew that."
Reports about "the inexperienced, Israeli internal security adviser" created pressure by public relations officials to remove Cipel from his position, and security authorities in the U.S., like the F.B.I., announced that they would deny him access to classified documents.
"With good reason," Cipel says. "I was willing to undergo a security check - I had nothing to hide. However, they finally didn't do it. Given the pressure, the governor decided that I would no longer serve in the security position."
The media reported that Cipel was appointed to a new position as adviser on matters pertaining to the Jewish community, thereby preserving his large salary.
"I didn't receive a new position. I remained in the former position - without the security aspect. The entire handling of my situation was a continuous failure on the part of the governor's spokesmen. I asked them many times to let me speak to the press and explain the matter, but they refused to let me speak. The result was that I found myself isolated, and marginal.
"This caused me a great deal of damage. There was an attempt to besmirch my name. I saw my career, that I had worked hard to achieve, in ruins. I was turned from a naval officer into a sailor. Someone found a book of poetry, that I published myself when I was 16, and suddenly they made me into a poet. I became a ridiculous character, `a sailor/poet,' instead of a professional. I was frustrated. I talked to the governor. He didn't consider it to be very important."
`To save my own life'
Lowy forbids Cipel to discuss when the alleged sexual harassment began, which is why Cipel is only willing to say that it happened "while McGreevey was active in his position." According to Cipel, the harassment was physical and verbal.
McGreevey's statement gives the impression that the two of you were involved in a romantic affair.
"We had no romantic affair."
Cipel emphasizes that he did not "for one moment" sense that McGreevey was sexually interested in him during their work together. "We talked about women," he says. "I knew that he was newly married; his wife was about to give birth. I had no reason to suspect that he was interested in me. I was very innocent."
Cipel resigned from his position in 2002. Actually, he explains, he was fired by the governor.
"The governor called me and told me that there was a lot of public criticism, that it was not working out, and that it would be better if I left my job. My dream was shattered. The man who was supposed to defend me turned his back on me. He took advantage of my fears and the sensitive position that I was in and fired me. I am convinced that the reason was the acts of harassment that he carried out, and his fear that they would eventually be made public.
"After I was fired I worked in several places. On occasion I was threatened - notes left on my car and the door of my house. Telephone conversations. I knew I was being followed. Now I know that there was an effort, behind the scenes, to control me and create a situation in which I would leave the U.S. I was depressed. I had physical pain. Doctors who examined me said that there was no physical problem, and that it was, apparently, emotional stress. I wanted to meet with the governor to discuss everything that was happening around me. He refused."
Why did you decide to take the legal route?
"I felt that I needed to save my own life. I don't believe in giving in. The easiest thing would have been to take my bags and run, but then I would have stayed with the pain forever. It is frightening to share a story like this with an entire nation, and to expose oneself. But I believe that if I want to return to a normal life, I must make everything open, without shame, even if the face of a powerful man."
My advice to Mr. Cipel: Go to a nice warm bath-house, relax. Let your lawyers do the work for you. The very worst that's going to happen to you is book rights, interviews, and a movie script.
Bullsh!t. There was no media scrutiny of Cipel back then. His "relationship" with McGreevey was one of the worst-kept secrets in New Jersey, and yet you never saw any mention of this in any media report about the questions related to his appointment.
I just read on Drudge that some Professor as well as some other guys just came forth claiming they had an affair with Cipel, so their goes his "I`m straight" arguement. But your right, I wouldn`t doubt right now at this second CBS or some other moron company is calling his lawyers for rights to his story. I mean look at Scott Peterson, the freggin` trial isn`t even over yet and already they had that nitwits story on TV with Dean Cain playing Scott. Maybe Richard Simmons can play Cipel "Thtop thtop Governor! I can thit down anymore!"
IMHO, a 'sailor/poet' would be a far less ridiculous figure than 'mouthpiece/buttpiece'.
Was the author's really "Haim Handwerker"?
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Maybe he's referring to the Israeli media.
Cipel occasionally looks as if he might break into tears at any moment.
Girl.
Ummm...Mr. Cipel? You ARE a ridiculous character.
Yeah, well, where is the lawsuit? Here it is Wednesday and still no lawsuit. That's one slow typist.
I imagine that kind of coverage would have gotten a lot of play here in New Jersey, even from an overseas media outlet.
compared to who, the governor of the state of NJ - which I believe is in the top 5 in per capita income for the country. Cipel is doing what he needs to do, he is up against a powerful system that is seeking to destroy him - not the least of which is the media.
I do recall the story of Freeh being turned down by McGreevy for the position, but don't recall much after that.
I need a job where all I have to do is make someone else's job a bit easier and get $110K per year. Sheesh.
I'm not giving McGreevey a pass.
Cipel brought this on himself, he's no innocent victim. JMHO.
Hey Golan, try Midol. It's great for cramps.
There's always two sides to every story. Just because someone raises their hand in a court of law and swears to tell the truth, doesn't mean it's the truth. The Democratic infratructure will smear anyone, destroy anyone, and do anything to preserve their power.
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