Ruby Rippey-Gibney, a former San Francisco City Hall aide whose affair with Gov. Gavin Newsom became a defining scandal of his early political career, is set to share her account in an upcoming article for Vanity Fair. Details regarding the content of the piece remain undisclosed, but sources indicate Rippey-Gibney intends to present her perspective on the 2007 affair that significantly impacted Newsom's public image.
The story emerges as Newsom is widely anticipated to launch a presidential campaign in 2028, following his second term as California governor. Rippey-Gibney has not responded to requests for comment.
Newsom publicly acknowledged the affair in early 2007 after Alex Tourk, his political adviser and campaign manager, discovered the relationship between Newsom and Rippey-Gibney, who was then Tourk's wife and served as Newsom's appointments secretary. Tourk resigned from his position following the confrontation. Newsom subsequently held a press conference, apologizing for the affair and describing it as a "personal lapse of judgment."
At the time of the scandal's revelation, Rippey-Gibney was married to one of Newsom's close political associates. The affair also raised questions about power dynamics, given Rippey-Gibney's role as a subordinate employee under the elected official. Following the public outcry, Newsom announced he was abstaining from alcohol and would seek professional help, stating, "My problems with alcohol are not an excuse for my personal lapses in judgment."
Reports from news organizations at the time indicated Newsom entered an alcohol rehabilitation program. However, during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, Newsom told The Sacramento Bee that these reports were inaccurate. He stated he did not enter rehab but instead sought counseling and temporarily stopped drinking. "I like to think I’m a better person, and I like to think that a lot of people have made mistakes, we just don’t read about them," Newsom remarked regarding the personal impact of the scandal.
Newsom, who was married to Kimberly Guilfoyle from 2001 to 2006, began dating filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom in late 2006, shortly before the affair became public. Siebel Newsom, who stood by Newsom, later made critical remarks about Rippey-Gibney, referring to her as "the culprit" in the scandal. Siebel Newsom later apologized for these comments, which had drawn criticism for shifting blame despite the evident power imbalance.
Rippey-Gibney had remained largely out of the public eye regarding the affair until a brief reappearance during Newsom's 2018 gubernatorial campaign. She posted on Facebook that while she supported the #MeToo movement, she did not consider her relationship with Newsom to be within its scope, as she viewed herself as a consenting adult, despite her subordinate position. She described herself as a "free-thinking, 33-year-old adult married woman & mother" during that period, also noting her struggles with alcoholism and self-destructive behavior.
Newsom survived the political fallout from the scandal, winning reelection as mayor later in 2007. He subsequently held positions as lieutenant governor and then governor, becoming a prominent figure in the Democratic Party. Rippey-Gibney's forthcoming Vanity Fair essay is expected to be her most extensive public statement on the matter to date.