Gay ex-governor to pay no alimony, judge rules

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey will not have to pay his ex-wife alimony, a judge ruled Friday in granting the couple's divorce.

McGreevey, who left office after coming out as a gay man, was ordered to pay $1,075 in monthly child support to his daughter, Jacqueline.

He and his former wife, Dina Matos, agreed in May to share custody of the 6-year-old girl.

Matos had asked for $2,500 a month in alimony for four years and $1,750 a month in child support.

McGreevey, now a seminary student, testified he was too poor to pay alimony. He said during his testimony that he would earn $48,000 this year. He said he relied heavily on the support of his partner, Mark O'Donnell. Watch McGreevey plead he's too poor »

Family Court Judge Karen Cassidy granted the couple's divorce and spelled out the terms in an order Friday in the acrimonious, highly publicized case.

"The McGreeveys clearly had agendas," the judge wrote in an opinion accompanying her order. "As previously addressed, their anger seemed to override any ability to testify credibly or to be reasonable."

Despite agreeing to make the divorce an open trial, Matos believes the media coverage was not helpful, saying in a statement, "The public has no notion of the extent of the pain that my daughter, my family and I have suffered privately over the last four years."

McGreevey resigned his office as New Jersey governor in August 2004 after admitting he had had an affair with a man, later identified as a member of his staff. His wife subsequently filed for a divorce.

During the months that followed, each filed court documents accusing the other of poor parenting. Both wrote books about their personal relationship, sex lives and appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," adding fodder to the continuing tabloid frenzy.

McGreevey's lawyer, Steven Haller, said the former governor was pleased with the decision and hopes to live a quiet, anonymous life, raise his daughter and rebuild a cordial relationship with his former wife.

Haller added that Dina Matos would have fared better had she accepted a settlement offer instead of dragging her fractured family through the mud with a public trial.

All About Jim McGreevey • New Jersey • Family Law