James E Mcgreevey

When high-ranking officials publicly acknowledge they are gay, activists normally turn proud. But cheers turned to concerns Friday as gay politicians throughout the country digested the coming-out of the governor of New Jersey. "The fact that you have the governor of a big state saying, 'I am a gay American' without shame is a monumental step," said Daniel Zingale, former Cabinet secretary for Gov. Gray Davis and now a member of the California Agriculture Labor Relations Board.

The text of New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey's announcement of his resignation Thursday as transcribed by e-Media Inc.: Good afternoon. Throughout my life, I have grappled with my own identity, who I am. As a young child, I often felt ambivalent about myself, in fact, confused. By virtue of my traditions and my community, I worked hard to ensure that I was accepted as part of the traditional family of America. I married my first wife, Kari, out of respect and love.

The lawyer for the man with whom Gov. James E. McGreevey has admitting having an adulterous affair accused the governor Friday of waging a smear campaign against his client. At the same time, Republican leaders in New Jersey assailed McGreevey for announcing that he would resign in November, demanding instead that he step down immediately.

Former New Jersey governor James McGreevey is writing a book about his political career, which ended when he resigned last year after admitting a gay affair, his publisher, Regan Books, said Friday. There was no word on when the as-yet untitled book would be published. A spokesman for the publisher declined to give financial details of the deal.

Former Gov. James McGreevey, who announced he was gay in 2004 and resigned, filed for divorce from his wife of seven years. McGreevey's lawyers filed the two-page document seeking to dissolve his union with Dina Matos McGreevey in Elizabeth, county court spokeswoman Sandra Thaler-Gerber said.

They met four years ago at a performing arts center reception in Rishon Le Zion, a suburb of Tel Aviv. Golan Cipel was Israeli, a slender, boyish man just over 30 who worked as the town's information officer. Jim McGreevey was 12 years older, a smart, ambitious American mayor on a political junket. At some point, the relationship became sexual. It might have remained an unremarkable liaison if McGreevey had not been elected governor of New Jersey and hired Cipel at taxpayers' expense.

After getting elected on a promise to look out for the people's money, Gov. James E. McGreevey has spent much of his first year explaining away junkets, helicopter rides and a mysterious $110,000-a-year aide. Even poetry has proved poor politics for the Democrat: He has been accused of racism for trying to remove New Jersey's poet laureate over a Sept. 11 memorial verse critics called anti-Semitic.

Gov. James E. McGreevey signed legislation in Trenton that would steer flu vaccines to at-risk people and allow fines against healthcare providers who gave the shots to those less vulnerable. The measure sets a $500 civil fine against doctors and others who vaccinate people at low risk for flu complications. Some other states impose penalties including jail time for such actions.

Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who took office after his predecessor revealed a gay extramarital affair, has decided not to seek election to the post, a close advisor said. Democratic Assemblyman John McKeon said Codey made up his mind Friday night. Codey, who is serving the final 14 months of former Gov. James E. McGreevey's term, scheduled a news conference for today. Codey was expected to endorse Sen. Jon Corzine, the only declared Democratic candidate in the race.

Gov. James E. McGreevey signed a stem cell research bill that he said would "move the frontiers of science forward." The research involves the use of fetal and embryonic tissue. President Bush, citing ethical considerations, has limited U.S. funding for embryonic stem cell research to existing lines of cells. McGreevey was joined in West Orange by actor Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed by a 1995 fall and has become an advocate for research.