Former New Jersey
governor James E. McGreevey will not have to pay
alimony to his ex-wife, a judge in Trenton ruled Friday
in granting the couple a divorce after a tumultuous
eight-year marriage that crumbled publicly when
McGreevey acknowledged he was a ''gay American.''
A superior court
judge ruled that McGreevey, the nation's first openly
gay governor, must pay $250 a week, or $1,075 a month, in
child support for his 6-year-old daughter with Dina
Matos.
Matos had asked
for $2,500 a month alimony for four years and $1,750 a
month in child support. The couple share custody of the
girl.
McGreevey, now a
seminary student, testified during the couple's
contentious divorce trial that he's too poor to pay alimony.
The couple
formally separated in February 2005 after McGreevey resigned
in 2004, acknowledging that he is ''a gay American'' who had
an affair with a male staffer. The staffer denied the
affair and said he was sexually harassed by the
governor.
In her written
ruling, Union County superior court judge Karen Cassidy
lamented the anger and animosity she witnessed during the
couple's divorce trial.
''Especially, in
a matter as high-profile as this, the court was
disappointed that much of the testimony, particularly as it
related to public figures within the State of New
Jersey, and the dirty laundry associated therewith,
needed to be aired in the public and in the press,''
Cassidy wrote. ''The McGreeveys clearly had agendas. As
previously addressed, their anger seemed to override any
ability to testify credibly or to be reasonable.''
Cassidy ruled
that Matos is not entitled to assets from McGreevey's
tell-all book, The Confession . But in dividing their marital assets, Cassidy
ruled McGreevey owes Matos $109,000, representing half
their various bank and investment holdings.
The judge
rejected Matos's claims that her ex-husband should
compensate her for the 13 months she missed out on the
lifestyle perks of the governor's office. Cassidy also
rejected claims that McGreevey was purposefully
underemployed so that he didn't have to pay alimony.
The judge noted
that McGreevey was able to rely on his rich boyfriend to
provide for him.
''Mr. McGreevey
is not seeking employment because he does not need it to
sustain himself,'' she wrote.
Neither McGreevey
nor his ex-wife commented after the ruling was posted
online.
''No alimony --
that's what I'm talking about,'' McGreevey lawyer Stephen
Haller said after scanning the opinion. ''It's hard to
imagine a more favorable ruling for Jim McGreevey's
position.''
Matos issued a
statement before the ruling, decrying the pain and
suffering she and her family have endured throughout the
separation and divorce.
''Although the
victimization continues, I am stronger for the
experience,'' she said. (AP)
