Ruby Rippey, known for her affair with Gavin Newsom during his tenure as Mayor of San Francisco, recently shared details of the scandal in Vanity Fair. She also talked about Kamala Harris’s private advice to her amid the controversy.
At the time, Rippey was married to Alex Tourk, Newsom’s campaign manager, and worked as the mayor’s appointments secretary. When the affair became public, Harris, then San Francisco District Attorney, advised Rippey to remain silent. Rippey recalled Harris telling her, ‘I wouldn’t say anything right now, Ruby. Just pause. More time will give you better perspective.’
The Impact on Rippey
Rippey’s essay delves into her struggles with alcoholism, her eventual marriage breakdown, and journey to sobriety. She critiqued how Newsom’s team described the affair in his memoir, where he allegedly took credit for confessing to her husband. Rippey challenged this claim, indicating she had already confessed.
Starting the affair while at City Hall, Rippey detailed their encounters. These included visits to hotel rooms and his Russian Hill penthouse. In one vivid memory, Rippey described traveling in Newsom’s chauffeured town car, where he massaged her foot.
Life During and After the Affair
The affair, fueled by addiction and power dynamics, lasted for several months. Rippey reflected on the allure beyond the physical relationship, emphasizing the proximity to power and feeling visible again.
She noted Newsom’s comment after her first child’s birth, praising her weight loss. Reflecting on the affair, Rippey acknowledged power dynamics might have influenced her decisions, noting that power needs no coercion, merely existence.
Public Disclosure and Consequences
Rippey ultimately confessed the affair to her husband via email. Tourk, still working for Newsom, confronted him and resigned immediately. This led Newsom to publicly admit the affair in 2007 and announce his need for alcohol treatment.
Both Newsom’s and Harris’ teams were contacted for comments but did not respond immediately.
Madison Colombo contributed to this report, drawing from her background in digital journalism.
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