In papers, McGreevey blasts wife's taste

The estranged wife of former New Jersey governor James E. McGreevey claims that his accusations of homophobia have hurt her book sales. He blames her taste in clothing.

Dina Matos McGreevey, who is in the midst of a bitter divorce from the ex-governor, has charged in court papers that his comments calling her homophobic harmed the sales of her recently released memoir.

But in a letter to a family court judge, McGreevey blamed his wife's May 1 interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show, citing ''her awful appearance'' in ''an inappropriate and ill-fitting ball gown with a plunging neckline.''

He also called her book ''poorly written'' and ''dull'' and derided as ''unbelievable'' her assertion that she didn't know he was gay, according to a story posted online by The Star-Ledger of Newark.

The letter was sent as superior court judge Karen Cassidy considered whether Matos McGreevey can claim that her husband libeled and defamed her when he called her homophobic.

James McGreevey, 49, proclaimed himself ''a gay American'' in 2004, acknowledging he had an extramarital affair with a male aide and announcing he would resign that November. The aide denies having an affair and claims he was sexually harassed.

There was no immediate response to telephone messages left Wednesday for James and Dina Matos McGreevey. (AP)