Posted on 07/31/2005 3:01:54 PM PDT by Liz
RAHWAY, N.J. (AP) -- A year after his life imploded in scandal, former New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey lives in self-imposed exile, avoiding the limelight he spent a lifetime chasing.
Separated from the wife he betrayed, McGreevey lives modestly in a one-bedroom apartment. He takes his 3-year-old daughter out for bacon and eggs after Sunday church services, walks to a corner newsstand for coffee and newspapers and stops to chat when passers-by recognize him.
It's a long way from the stately governor's mansion and the spotlight that shone on his soul-baring confession. With wife Dina Matos McGreevey at his side, his mother and father standing behind him, McGreevey confessed to an extramarital affair with a man and announced his resignation on Aug. 12, 2004.
"My truth is that I am a gay American," he said in a nationally televised speech.
McGreevey, 47, disappeared from public view after ducking reporters at the few public appearances he made in his final months as governor.
As citizen McGreevey, he has stayed silent and did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
Friends say he is coping fine, but is still saddled with the baggage of his messy public downfall over the revelation that he put Golan Cipel - the man identified by McGreevey administration officials as his lover - into a $110,000-a-year homeland security job for which he wasn't qualified.
"I'm sure he's had some tough moments, but he's always managed to pull through," said Rahway Mayor James Kennedy, a longtime friend who still sees the McGreeveys - separately - socially.
Related Stories McGreevey Avoids Spotlight After Scandal
"Jim's an incredibly bright guy. I've known him since 1982, and having known him that long, I can tell you he's a resilient guy. He just went through a very traumatic experience. He's handling things very well."
McGreevey's wife bought a three-bedroom house in Springfield where she lives with the couple's daughter, Jacqueline. Neither has filed for divorce. She is a public relations executive with Columbus Hospital Foundation in Newark
McGreevey found work in the law firm of a longtime ally, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, but resigned after conflict-of-interest allegations were raised about his work on the $1.3 billion Xanadu entertainment and retail complex under construction at the Meadowlands, which he had championed as governor.
Now he is looking for options outside the state to avoid similar controversies, said friend George Zoffinger, chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.
"No matter what he does in New Jersey, it's always going to come under scrutiny," Zoffinger said.
He has received offers of work from nonprofit organizations involved in public service, according to Lesniak, who said an announcement having to do with McGreevey's future was imminent.
"There will certainly be not-for-profits that would not want to associate themselves with him because they don't want the notoriety," said Julie Goldberg, an executive recruiter. "There are others that may feel that the merits (of his case) were tried more in the public domain than anywhere and that he has a demonstrable track record of making solid relationships and getting things done."
Lesniak insists McGreevey is not seen as damaged goods.
"To the contrary," Lesniak said. "He's a national figure. He is well-known, he has expertise and he's well-regarded, for the most part. And admired. ... People want to talk to him, want to hear from him, just like you do. We get calls for him all the time."
For now, McGreevey spends time with Jacqueline and his other daughter, Morag, from his first marriage, as well as his sister and his parents.
"He's doing well," said McGreevey's father, former U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor Jack McGreevey, who would not elaborate or answer questions about his son's life since leaving office. "He's fine and dandy."
McGreevey, a tireless campaigner when he was in politics, still shows signs of that outgoing demeanor. He's often chatty when he shows up at a corner newsstand to buy coffee and two newspapers, according to one merchant.
"I keep it short," said Bob Patel, who works the counter. "He wants to talk but I'm busy in the morning."
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
Purchase this AP story for reprint (link at web site).
Non-profits? Maybe towel attendant at the YMCA? Or bingo caller at state-funded senior day care?
McGreevy should apply to McDonald's---they're hiring ketchup pumpers. Or maybe he'd make a good paint mixer at Sherwin Williams.
The list of Dumbocrat corruption attached to gay ex-gov McGreevey is long, and revolting.
Convicted felon Charles Kushner, the billionaire real estate mogul, McG's top donor, and contributor to the Clintons and the DNC, was sentenced on March 4 to two years in federal prison for his convictions on charges of assisting in the filing of false tax returns, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission.
Kushner is also serving time for retaliating against a cooperating witness, for setting up his BIL in a videotaped sex assignation Kushner had arranged with a prostitute, and had actually mailed the tape to his own sister to intimidate the two, who were federal witnesses against Kushner.
Kushner is infamous as the wealthy benefactor of high-profile Dumbocrats, including the Clintons. He donated millions to the Democratic party and was the largest single contributor to gay gov McGreevey, who was forced out of office b/c of massive corruption and his activities with gay blade Golan Cipel.
McGay stupidly installed his boyfriend, Cipel, as HomeLandSec advisor......the citizenry later discovered the individual sex-crazed McGay put in charge of their safety could not get security clearance b/c Cipel was not a US citizen.
While Cipel was working for the state's Democrat Party---his first US job in the USA---Kushner sponsored his work permit.
Cipel later threatened to out McG with a sexual harassment lawsuit which prompted McGreevey's resignation from office. At the time McG resigned, announcing that he "just found out" he was gay (poster laughs uproariously).
just keep him away from soap dispensing
Boys room or girls room?
Heheh........I hear he carries soap-on-a-rope when visiting the YMCA.
I'm sure a mail order candy company needs a fudge packer.
If available, please post news stories outlining details....thanks.
Perfect......he's got plenty of-- ahem-- experience.
The Love Gov- or McGreevey's Great Gay Adventure
various FR links | 08-18-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1193840/posts
...for fudgepackers.
LOL!
Yeah, that was pretty clever cover......nicely diverted attention from his and his corrupt insiders massive wrongdoing.
He is gay and therefore we should feel sorry for him. He didn't really mean to hire a sex partner to run homeland security but when he saw how the guy was packing he couldn't help it.
Yep, he's dandy alright.
"...his other daughter, Morag, from his first marriage"
This reprobate has married not one, but TWO women?? SHEESH!! Maybe he and the Torch could go into business -- set up something for disgraced NJ politicians -- their personnel files would be overflowing in no time!
McGreevey made New Jersey a laugh riot......but the best political corruption story was the Arizona case----when conniving pols willingly got sucked into the trap to rig the legislative system for money .....all caught on tape. It was all recorded in a hiliarious book: "What's in It for Me?"
When it broke early in 1991, the scandal resulting from the government sting known as AzScam exposed the sewer of corruption and blind ambition that is Arizona politics. What's in It for Me? is the astonishing, often hilarious inside story of what AzScam revealed and how it worked, chronicled by the remarkable man who made it work.
Working with the Phoenix District Attorney's office, JOSEPH STEDINO set up Operation "Desert Sting." Stedino, a gruffly suave ex-Mafia crony and Las Vegas talk show host, became Tony Vincent, a flashy, freespending Mafia capo looking to ensure the passage of a bill to legalize gambling in Arizona.
As word of Vincent's willingness to buy votes spread among Arizona politicians, they eagerly lined up to have him grease their palms. Some he bought for as little as $600. Others, like Representative Don Kenney, the conservative Mormon chairman of the Arizona House Judiciary Committee, exacted over $50,000 in bribes. Over seventeen months, Vincent doled out a total of more than $300,000 in bribes, while police and prosecutors recorded it all on tape, ensuring that this sting would be one of the most successful ever.
Ultimately, twenty legislators, lobbyists, and political insiders would be indicted as a result of Desert Sting. What's in It for Me? offers a panoramic view of every
conceivable type of political chicanery. In these pages we witness:
-- legislators jockeying for the seats that will give them the most revealing views of their female colleagues
-- a lobbyist requesting that Vincent rub out a competing lobbyist
-- a former sheriff offering his services as a hit man
-- lobbyists peddling "studies" whose results are tailored to clients' specifications by members of the Arizona State University faculty
-- and countless more examples of how politics in Arizona -- and the rest of this country -- really works.
--- One 35-ish female pol was caught on tape saying---unasked--- that she was sexually attracted to young boys.
Picking up where the national headlines left off, What's in It for Me?; is true crime on a colossal scale, a taut, funny, and endlessly fascinating tale of shameless villainy Western-style.
This scam probably wouldn't work in New Jersey snce all the legislators, agency appointees, their lobbyist pals, contributors and developers, are members of elected organized crime.
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.