An aide involved in an affair with then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2005 has detailed their relationship and her subsequent journey to sobriety in a personal essay published by Vanity Fair.
Ruby Rippey, 54, who served as Newsom's appointments secretary, described the affair as a period of intoxication fueled by proximity to power, rather than romance. The relationship began in July 2005 after a wedding and spanned several months, involving intermittent sexual encounters until Rippey entered rehabilitation in May 2006. She noted that the affair occurred while she was a new mother and her pre-existing drinking problem escalated.
The affair came to light in 2007 when Rippey informed her husband, Alex Tourk, who was Newsom's close friend and campaign manager. Tourk subsequently resigned from his position. At the time, Newsom, who had recently divorced, publicly acknowledged the affair and stated he was seeking treatment for alcohol abuse. Rippey's essay offers a more intimate account than previous discussions of the relationship.
A spokesperson for Governor Newsom's office stated that Newsom acknowledged his role in the affair nearly two decades ago and has since focused on serving Californians, addressing the matter in his memoir. The spokesperson added that out of respect for everyone involved, Newsom has no further comment.
While Rippey does not assign blame to Newsom, she acknowledged in her essay that in the post-#MeToo era, she realized her former boss had a responsibility to "hold the line." She asserts personal responsibility for her actions, stating, "Power does not distribute consequences evenly." She described the affair as a "fracture" that divided her life into distinct before and after periods, contrasting with Newsom's characterization of it as a "footnote."
Rippey, who has been sober for 20 years, concludes her essay by emphasizing her rebuilt life. She writes, "The damage was mine, but so is the life rebuilt in its wake." She expresses gratitude not for the affair or the pain caused, but for the profound change it necessitated, making a return to drinking unthinkable.
