Former McGreevey aide implicated in scandal speaks out
By the Wolf Blitzer Reports staff
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The former aide at the center of the scandal that led New Jersey's governor to resign has left the country. Golan Cipel is back in his native Israel -- while fallout swirls about his relationship with Gov. James McGreevey.
"I have had a very difficult time. I have come to Israel to be with my family at this time. I cannot expand on anything for legal reasons," Cipel said as he visited his parents in a Tel Aviv suburb.
Although he didn't offer any new details on camera, he talked at length about his experience with McGreevey to Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot.
The paper quotes him as saying, "At first, it didn't occur to me that he was homosexual. The man looked happily married, he has children, and his wife was very active in the campaign and election."
Cipel says, "He hit on me over and over ... Think about how scary it is when we are talking about a powerful man like the governor of the state of New Jersey."
CNN contacted McGreevey's office about Cipel's claims. Officials would not comment except to say McGreevey stands by last week's statement, which portrayed the relationship differently.
"I engaged in [an] adult consensual affair with another man," the governor said as he offered up his resignation.
Cipel's lawyer says while there were talks with McGreevey's staff concerning some kind of settlement, he says Cipel is interested in justice -- not money.
"When the governor resigned I think my client in some way felt vindicated that the governor did own up to what he had done -- because politicians don't resign because they're gay or in fact had a consensual affair. And there was no affair here, because my client is heterosexual. There was no relationship -- there was assault and harassment," attorney Allen Lowy told CNN.
Meanwhile New Jersey Republicans are mounting pressure on McGreevey to resign immediately -- which would prompt a special election.
McGreevey is opting to wait until November 15 when, under New Jersey law, the state Senate president, a fellow Democrat takes over to serve out McGreevey's term.
McGreevey defended his decision in a Tuesday article in USA Today saying, "The fact that I have chosen to leave office before the end of my term only heightens my responsibilities to the citizens of New Jersey - not only to complete the initiatives we have started, but also to oversee an orderly transition of power. "
