Gavin Newsom’s Former Aide Breaks Silence On Affair That Rocked His Political Career

Nearly two decades after the affair that threatened to derail Gavin Newsom’s political future, former San Francisco City Hall aide Ruby Rippey-Gibney has publicly shared her account for the first time in a deeply personal essay published by Vanity Fair.

Rippey-Gibney, who was married to Newsom’s close friend and deputy chief of staff Alex Tourk at the time of the affair, wrote that she wanted to reclaim her own story after years of remaining silent. She said the relationship unfolded while Newsom was serving as mayor of San Francisco and described the emotional toll, addiction, and public fallout that followed when the affair became public.

In the essay, Rippey-Gibney disputes portions of Newsom’s recent memoir, arguing that his account oversimplified the relationship and omitted important details. She wrote that the affair lasted for several months rather than being a brief encounter and maintained that she, not Newsom, ultimately confessed the affair to her husband.

Rippey-Gibney also described struggling with severe alcohol and cocaine addiction during that period of her life. She recounted entering rehabilitation, losing her marriage, and facing intense public scrutiny after Newsom publicly admitted the affair in 2007. She wrote that while the scandal devastated her personal life, it ultimately became the turning point that led her to sobriety. According to the essay, she has now been sober for 20 years.

The former aide said she chose not to speak publicly for years after receiving advice to remain silent while she focused on recovery. She reflected on rebuilding her life, remarrying, raising a family, and eventually developing a cordial relationship with her former husband through their shared commitment to co-parenting their son.

Newsom’s office declined to revisit the controversy in detail, with a spokesperson saying the governor has nothing further to add out of respect for everyone involved. The renewed attention comes as Newsom continues to face national scrutiny and speculation about his political future, bringing one of the defining scandals of his early career back into the spotlight.