Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey [Democrats] announced his resignation after revealing that he is gay and that he had an adulterous affair with a man.
With his wife standing by his side, McGreevey -- a father of two -- spoke in calm tones as he described his struggle with his sexuality, "a certain sense that separated me from others." It was something that he said began as a child.
"At a point in every person's life, one has to look deeply into the mirror of one's soul and decide one's unique truth in the world, not as we may want to see it or hope to see it, but as it is," McGreevey said.
McGreevey's surprise resignation came as Golan Cipel, a former security aide to the governor, had readied a sexual harassment lawsuit against the governor, two Democratic sources told CNN. Cipel resigned his post in 2002.
A third Democratic source, who had spoken throughout the day with a top aide to the governor, told CNN it is unclear whether Cipel will proceed with the lawsuit now that McGreevey has announced his resignation.
Speaking at a packed news conference in the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey, McGreevey admitted to an affair with a man and asked for his family's forgiveness.
August 13, 2004