Former Aide Publishes Detailed Account of Affair With Gavin Newsom From His Time as San Francisco Mayor
Ruby Rippey, a former appointments secretary under Gavin Newsom, has published a first-person account in Vanity Fair detailing an affair she had with him more than 20 years ago. The essay was released as Newsom finishes his final year as California governor while laying the groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential run. The relationship began in the summer of 2005 and involved off-and-on encounters at locations including a Russian Hill penthouse, a North Beach bar, and a Los Angeles hotel. At the time of the affair, Rippey was married to Alex Tourk, who served as Newsom’s re-election campaign manager after previously working as his deputy chief of staff.
Public Revelation and Political Fallout in 2007
The affair became public knowledge in early 2007, prompting Newsom to hold a press conference at City Hall where he announced that everything reported was true. Tourk resigned immediately after learning of the relationship from his wife. Although Newsom had announced his divorce from Kimberly Guilfoyle in January 2005, the revelation shocked San Francisco residents and California political circles due to the involvement of a subordinate and the disruption of a close friend’s marriage. By the time the scandal broke, Newsom was dating Jennifer Siebel—now his wife—who later apologized after publicly dismissing the affair as a couple of minor incidents and labeling Rippey the culprit.
Memoir Mentions and Legal Representation
In her Vanity Fair essay, Rippey notes that she received a telephone call in January from an adviser to Newsom informing her that she was mentioned in his new memoir. Newsom discusses her in two paragraphs, characterizing the relationship as the stupidest and briefest of affairs, and writes that he had come clean to Tourk. Rippey takes issue with this portrayal, arguing that it incorrectly credits Newsom for something she had already done. Rippey is currently represented by public relations strategist Dini Von Mueffling, while a spokesman for Newsom stated that the governor publicly apologized for his conduct nearly two decades ago and has no further comment.
Subsequent Advice, Personal Reflections, and Current Life
Following the public exposure of the affair, Rippey considered writing her own memoir but was advised by then-San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris to say nothing and take time to gain perspective, guidance Rippey ultimately followed. When the affair was raised by opponents during Newsom’s 2018 gubernatorial run, Rippey posted on Facebook that she did not view the relationship through the lens of the #MeToo movement, describing herself at the time as a 33-year-old married mother who was free-thinking. Now 54 and 20 years sober, Rippey lives in Mill Valley, California, is remarried with an 11-year-old son, and has reconciled with Tourk, with whom she co-parented their adult son and now considers family.
