California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing renewed attention as details emerge about a 2007 affair with a former staffer, Ruby Rippey-Gibney, which is slated to be detailed in an upcoming Vanity Fair article. The affair, which occurred when Newsom was Mayor of San Francisco, led to Rippey-Gibney's divorce and significantly impacted her relationship with her then-husband, Alex Tourk, who was also Newsom's close friend and campaign adviser.
Sources familiar with the article, set to be published in August, suggest Rippey-Gibney's account will offer a more in-depth perspective than Newsom's own portrayal of the events. In his book, "Young Man in a Hurry," Newsom described the affair as a brief encounter stemming from excessive drinking. However, Rippey-Gibney's forthcoming piece reportedly characterizes the relationship as more ongoing and substantial.
A source close to Rippey-Gibney emphasized that her intention is not to cast herself as a victim but to provide a more complete narrative, acknowledging her own responsibility while also noting Newsom's position of power and the perceived failure to establish boundaries. The source stated that Rippey-Gibney takes accountability for her actions but believes that both realities of the situation can be true simultaneously.
The scandal first came to light in 2007, prompting Newsom to issue a public apology and seek treatment for alcohol abuse. Rippey-Gibney, who has since remarried and has two sons, briefly addressed the affair on social media in 2018 during Newsom's gubernatorial campaign. At that time, she expressed regret over the personal fallout but maintained the relationship was consensual, questioning the applicability of the #MeToo movement to her situation given her age and marital status, while also noting her struggles with alcohol at the time.
Newsom, when asked in 2018 about his past indiscretions, reiterated his acknowledgment and apology, stating he had learned a great deal from the experience and aimed to be a model for addressing crises affecting men and boys. He also expressed regret for hurting Alex Tourk.
Rippey-Gibney left her City Hall position in 2006, fueling speculation at the time. She later received "catastrophic illness pay" from the city, which led to an investigation that ultimately cleared both her and Newsom of wrongdoing. She has since worked in the private sector and marked 20 years of sobriety.