Ruby Rippey-Gibney to Share Her Side of the Story

Ruby Rippey-Gibney, a former aide at San Francisco City Hall, is set to open up about her past affair with Governor Gavin Newsom in an upcoming article for Vanity Fair. This will be her first public discussion of the incident that altered both of their lives back in 2007, which became one of the low points of Newsom’s career.

While specific details remain unclear, sources say Rippey-Gibney intends to provide her viewpoint on the scandal that disrupted San Francisco’s political scene, characterized by embarrassment for Newsom.

Currently, Newsom is rumored to be gearing up for a presidential run in 2028 after resigning next year.

Rippey-Gibney hasn’t responded to inquiries for comment.

The affair came to light when Newsom’s longtime advisor found out about his relationship with Rippey-Gibney, who was married to one of Newsom’s close allies and worked directly for him. Following the confrontation, she resigned, and Newsom held a press conference where he publicly acknowledged what he described as a “personal error in judgment.”

“I want to make it clear that everything you’ve heard and read is true, and I deeply regret it,” he said at the time.

The governor’s office and Vanity Fair have not provided comments regarding Rippey-Gibney’s forthcoming article.

Newsom was dating his current wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, when the scandal emerged. The incident gained national attention not only due to its nature but also because it raised questions about the relationships between elected officials and their staff.

In light of the fallout, Newsom made the decision to stop drinking and sought professional assistance, stating, “An alcohol problem is no excuse for my personal errors in judgment.”

His narrative surrounding this issue has been somewhat inconsistent. During his campaign for governor in 2018, he remarked that reports about him being in rehab were untrue. Instead, he stated that he had received counseling and, although he paused his drinking, eventually resumed.

Despite predictions of political destruction due to this scandal, Newsom recovered, being re-elected as mayor later that year, and subsequently holding the positions of lieutenant governor and governor. He has become one of the prominent figures in the Democratic Party.

The affair also put a strain on his relationship with Siebel Newsom, who began dating him before the affair became public. Despite supporting him eventually, she did express some harsh sentiments early on, claiming there were “two sides to every story,” which caused a stir.

Observers criticized her comments for seeming to shift blame onto Rippey-Gibney, given the power dynamics at play.

Rippey-Gibney has largely refrained from discussing the past publicly but did make a brief appearance during Newsom’s gubernatorial campaign in 2018. She has expressed her support for the #MeToo movement, though she believes her situation should not be classified within that context, affirming that she was a consenting adult at the time.

Her forthcoming essay in Vanity Fair promises to be her most extensive narrative yet surrounding the affair.

While Newsom has generally kept quiet about the specifics, acknowledging his role without delving too deeply into the matter, his office has not commented on the anticipated article.