Posted on 05/15/2008 8:22:15 AM PDT by Puppage
ELIZABETH, N.J. -- The nation's first openly gay governor was back in court Thursday, testifying for a second day as he tries to convince a judge he is too poor to pay alimony to his estranged wife.
Former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey testified Wednesday that he has limited income, few assets and significant debts. He said he is all but unemployable because of the gay sex scandal that toppled his administration and ongoing publicity in his messy divorce.
"Because of this case, I have been financially crippled," McGreevey told the judge.
McGreevey, 50, stepped down 13 months before his first term was to end, announcing in a nationally televised speech that he was "a gay American." He said he had an affair with a male staffer while married to Dina Matos McGreevey. The staffer denies the affair and says he was sexually harassed by the governor.
Now an Episcopal seminary student, McGreevey said he owes a prior divorce lawyer at least $116,000 and has not paid his first ex-wife any child support this year. He said he relies on boyfriend Mark O'Donnell to pay legal bills and lifestyle expenses. He lives in a house owned by O'Donnell and said he owes O'Donnell money.
Matos McGreevey wants alimony, and is asking the judge to base the payments, at least in part, on McGreevey's "marital conduct," including his alleged adulterous gay relationship.
McGreevey lawyer Stephen Haller said the couple's "short-term marriage" does not qualify for her for alimony. They split in 2004 after four years of marriage.
Matos McGreevey, 41, is a hospital executive, but she is slated to lose her job next month when the hospital closes.
Her lawyer, John Post, accused McGreevey of underestimating his earning potential.
The judge said employment expert Donna Kolsky will testify Thursday afternoon. She is expected to testify that McGreevey could earn a maximum of $118,000 from teaching and consulting. Matos McGreevey earns about $82,000 a year at the hospital.
The couple is fighting over alimony, child support, and how to divide their assets and liabilities. They have agreed on custody of their only child, 6-year-old Jacqueline.
Matos McGreevey is asking the court to award her alimony and additional money based on the contention that McGreevey committed marriage fraud. She says she was duped into marriage by a gay man who needed the cover of a wife to advance his political career.
McGreevey says his wife should have known he was gay.
Jane is right....
PS
read the article.
Oh, I did skip it, thanks! Yeah, this guy is a real creep.
Just hold another press conference. “My truth is, I am a financially crippled American.” Should work, right? Right?
You have concluded I haven't read the article. You would be wrong. Her job loss is not his concern. He shouldn't have to support her. Adults should support themselves, period. Try to remember this is a conservative website. Its denizens are supposed to believe in self-reliance.
LOL!
Charming as always ;)
Golly gee, I was raised to believe that real men keep their promises and live up to their obligations......
Real men (ya know what that is don’t ya).
And I adore men (for breakfast ;))
jobs come and jobs go. He doesn’t have 5 $million jobs lined up for himself either. Have her apply to other jobs just like anyone else.
Where will he get the money to live for himself, pay alimony for her and child support?
You can say that again.
Not to mention, spring is ALWAYS big business for interior decorators!
After all, isn’t McSkeevy absolutely FABULOUS ??? (evil grin)
Well, with the high price of oil, can you imagine what their Vaseline bill looks like, now ??? (evil grin)
Thanks for your advise Mr. McGreevey but sometimes shi* happens.
Cut lawns, work at McDonalds, mop floors just stop crying poor mouth it was your decision plus I don’t believe that your ex wife had to rape you, then again maybe she did, in order for her to have YOUR child.
Alimony is a punitive punishment usually, (in my state anyway), doled out to the party guilty of reneging on their marriage contract. With soaring divorce rates, it seems an appropriate form of rehabilitation for the damaged spouse.
I’ve had to garnish alimony payments from both male and female employee’s. The common thread between them all was the fact the one getting garnished was the cause of the divorce.
There should be more stigma attached to divorce and if alimony causes some pain, so be it.
and when the wife files for divorce?
unemployable? couldn’t he be a gay escort?
Yes, that would probably be “a lifestyle expense.”
Especially as Escorts are in much higher demand lately, with the good gas mileage they get. . . even if they do look a little gay. . .
Oh, you mean an ESCORT. . .
Nevermind. . . (grin)
No, actually, what he meant to say is that he’s brain-damaged from blunt-force trauma to his lower GI tract.
I might agree, ordinarilly. But he married her under fraud and he cheated. These things ALWAYS cost the other party in the past and now.
The I haven’t got a job excuse doesn’t wash. He can and will get big bucks for a book and speaking gigs AFTER this is settled. Also, he hasn’t paid child support either. That doesn’t work here in TN, but maybe NJ is different.
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