New Jersey Democratic governor Jim McGreevey will resign on Monday in the wake of a sex scandal that erupted this summer and exposed his homosexuality to the public. In his final address, McGreevey focused the address on lessons he has taken from being forced to come out and admit to his affair in the public eye, but neglected to mention the many allegations and instances of corruption that have defined his tenure. By using his sexuality to evade responsibility for the corruption of his administration, he is doing a disservice to both the citizens of New Jersey and gay and lesbian Americans.
McGreevey announced that he was gay on Aug. 12 when it was revealed that he had had an affair with a man whom he had placed on the government payroll. Just one month earlier, he fell in danger of being indicted after federal investigators produced a tape of him and contributor David D’Amiano showing that he knew about a scheme to exchange political favors for campaign donations.
A week later, Charles Kushner, McGreevey’s top fundraiser, was indicted for hiring a prostitute to seduce and blackmail his brother-in-law into silence in a campaign finance investigation. Both Kushner and D’Amiano have both since pled guilty. There are currently three other investigations of the administration and McGreevey’s political allies pending.
As a result, McGreevey’s administration has been one of the most scandal-ridden that New Jersey has ever seen. The specific offense that has led to McGreevey’s resignation, the hiring of his lover as State Homeland Security Advisor without any qualifications, is only one in a long line of disgraces to the state’s political system during his reign. That he is casting his decision to step down as a direct result of his sexuality is an outrageous evasion of the true issues at stake.
McGreevey has also denied the people of New Jersey a chance to choose his replacement by resigning after election day, thus avoiding a special election and leaving the remainder of his term to political ally, State Senate President Richard Codey.
Furthermore, his action reinforces backwards views of homosexuality by implying that being openly gay is an obstacle to his continued governorship. Where he could have taken a courageous stance and fulfilled his term in the face of homophobia, he has chosen instead to run from his responsibilities.
