Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s past affair with a former staffer has resurfaced after Ruby Rippey shared a detailed account of their relationship.
According to The New York Post, Rippey, who worked as a staffer for Newsom, described the beginning of the affair during a 2005 wedding while she was married to Newsom’s close friend and senior aide, Alex Tourk.
In an essay published by Vanity Fair on Tuesday, Rippey said the two had a tense encounter outside a bathroom at the wedding before later spending time together.
She wrote that the interaction marked the beginning of a relationship that would eventually become a major political scandal in San Francisco.
Rippey said Newsom had not yet finalized his divorce from Kimberly Guilfoyle at the time, while she remained married to Tourk.
In the essay, Rippey described leaving the event with Newsom and later waking up in a hotel room after drinking heavily. She said the encounter became the start of an affair that continued until she entered drug rehabilitation in May 2006.
Rippey said she eventually told Tourk about the relationship in January 2007. Tourk then arranged a meeting with Newsom, according to her account.
The affair became public in February 2007, creating a major political crisis for Newsom, who was serving as San Francisco mayor at the time.
Newsom was also dating Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who later became California’s first partner.
Newsom’s office responded to the essay by pointing to his previous public acknowledgment of the affair and apology for his actions.
“The governor acknowledged his role and publicly apologized for his conduct nearly two decades ago when he was still mayor,” Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement.
Gardon added that Newsom has since focused on his family and public service, saying he had addressed the episode previously, including in his memoir.
“He addressed this chapter of his life, including in his memoir, and out of respect for everyone involved, does not have anything further to add,” Gardon said.
The resurfacing of the scandal comes nearly two decades after the affair became public and drew widespread attention during Newsom’s early political career.