Ruby Rippey’s Account of Her Affair With Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris’ Role in Advising Her
Ruby Rippey, known for her affair with then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, has shared a detailed account of the incident in a Vanity Fair article. She also revealed insights about the role of former Vice President Kamala Harris in advising her during the scandal.
The revelation harks back to 2007 when Rippey, who was married to Newsom’s campaign manager, Alex Tourk, and worked as Newsom’s appointments secretary, became part of a significant California political scandal. At that time, Harris, serving as the San Francisco District Attorney, privately advised Rippey to hold off on public comments or book deals when the news broke.
“She listens, then says simply: ‘I wouldn’t say anything right now, Ruby. Just pause. More time will give you better perspective,’” Rippey quoted Harris.
In her essay, Rippey delves into her struggles with alcoholism, the collapse of her marriage, and her path to sobriety. She questions the portrayal of the affair in Newsom’s memoir, highlighting discrepancies. Rippey indicates that Newsom’s book incorrectly credits him with confessing to her husband, a feat she claims was her own.
When Rippey confronted a Newsom advisor regarding the portrayal in the memoir, she received a non-committal response: “Well, we all remember things differently, don’t we, Ruby?”
Rippey recounted her initial involvement with Newsom while at City Hall, narrating various encounters, which included sharing a hot tub, staying in hotels, and meeting at his Russian Hill penthouse.
Former Mayor Gavin Newsom publicly acknowledged his extramarital affair at a 2007 City Hall news conference, extending apologies for the incident involving a former staffer’s wife.
Rippey’s vivid memories include moments such as traveling in the back of her boss’s chauffeured town car to The Carneros Inn, experiencing intimate gestures like a foot massage, and waking up next to Newsom after these encounters.
Their meetings, according to Rippey, were driven by addiction and the allure of status. She noted that while they involved intimate relations, proximity to power and visibility were the primary motivators.
After the birth of her first child, Rippey recalls a comment from Newsom at a Mexican restaurant saying, “Hey — you look really good … You’ve lost all your pregnancy weight.”
Years later, Rippey acknowledges the potential influence of a power imbalance in their relationship, emphasizing that power doesn’t need coercion to be impactful—it merely needs to exist.
When Rippey decided to disclose the affair to her husband via email, he confronted Newsom and subsequently resigned. The confession led to a public eruption of the affair, prompting Newsom’s admission and his announcement to pursue alcohol abuse treatment.
Fox News has reached out to Newsom’s and Harris’ teams for comments but has yet to receive a response.