Golan Cipel
Golan Cipel (born 1968) is an Israeli consultant most known for his role in a scandal surrounding American former politician Jim McGreevey.
Biography
Cipel was born in Tel Aviv in 1968 and grew up in the city of Rishon LeZion.[1]
Cipel served in the
Cipel holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in communications arts from the New York Institute of Technology.[2]
Jim McGreevey
Cipel met American politician Jim McGreevey in Israel in 2000.[3] Cipel relocated to the United States to work for McGreevey's 2001 campaign for governor of New Jersey as a liaison to the Jewish community.[4]
In 2002, following his election as governor of New Jersey, McGreevey appointed Cipel as homeland security adviser at a salary of $110,000.[5] Members of the New Jersey Legislature questioned the appointment,[6] and the appointment was criticized because Cipel appeared unqualified for the position.[3][5] In addition, Cipel could not obtain a security approval from the federal government, as he was Israeli and not a U.S. citizen; therefore, the FBI and the Secret Service would not provide him with intelligence.[7] (In a 2004 interview, Cipel stated that his situation had been intentionally misrepresented by the governor's office and asserted that he had never actually been responsible for internal security under the governor.[8])
McGreevey assisted Cipel in obtaining a townhouse near McGreevey's home. Cipel reportedly stated that he needed to live near the governor because his job involved being on call on a 24-hour basis. "According to the Star-Ledger newspaper, McGreevey even accompanied Cipel on a final walk-through of the townhouse, which the real estate agent said she found odd".[9]
In March 2002, Cipel stepped down from his Homeland Security position and was reassigned to an advisor position regarding government operations. In August 2002, Cipel resigned from the McGreevey administration.[10]
On the afternoon of August 12, 2004, faced with threats from Cipel's lawyer, Allen Lowy, that Cipel would file a sexual harassment lawsuit against him in Mercer County Court,[4] McGreevey held a press conference announcing that he had "engaged in an adult consensual affair with another man" (whom his aides immediately named as Cipel)[11] and that he would resign effective November 15, 2004.[7] New Jersey political circles had speculated about McGreevey's sexual orientation and questions about his relationship with Cipel had been alluded to in the media.[12] For his part, Cipel later asserted that he was heterosexual[13][14] and denied having had an affair with McGreevey;[15][16][17][13][14] Cipel has contended that McGreevey subjected him to sexual harassment[18][4] and sexual assault[19] and then fired him when his advances were rejected.[8] In his own words, Cipel claims he was one of many victims of McGreevey's sexual harassment, that he had "no romantic affair" with the governor, but rather was taken advantage of.[20]
References
- ^ a b "Golan Cipel's Official Web Site". www.cipelgolan.com.
- ^ Berger, Joseph; Tarnopolsky, Noga (2004-08-18). "FALLOUT FROM A RESIGNATION: THE FORMER ADVISER; A Smart, Self-Assured Man With Political Ambitions". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ a b KOCIENIEWSKI, David (March 4, 2002). "New Jersey Republicans See Shortsighted Cronyism in McGreevey's Appointments". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
- ^ a b c Cloud, John (August 23, 2004). "The Governor's Secret Life". Time. Vol. 164, no. 8. Archived from the original on February 22, 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- ^ a b "Man in McGreevey Scandal Speaks Out". ABC News. August 13, 2004.
- ^ "A GOVERNOR RESIGNS: OVERVIEW; McGreevey Steps Down After Disclosing a Gay Affair". The New York Times. August 13, 2004.
- ^ a b "McGreevey confession doesn't reveal all". NBC News. August 13, 2004.
- ^ Ha'aretz. Archived from the originalon 2004-08-20. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ Mercurio, John (August 13, 2004). "Over and out". cnn.com.
- ^ Kocieniewski, David (August 15, 2002). "An Adviser to McGreevey Resigns". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
- ^ Kohen, Yael (August 13, 2004). "McGreevey to quit, declares 'I am a gay American'". The New York Sun. Archived from the original on November 3, 2004. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- ^ "Under the Gaydar". Phillymag.com. May 15, 2006.
- ^ a b "MAN DISPUTES WHAT HAPPENED WITH GOVERNOR". Baltimore Sun. August 16, 2004.
- ^ a b "'I'm just seeking a nice American Jewish bride'". The Jerusalem Post. September 27, 2006.
- ^ "Israeli Denies He Was NJ Governor's Lover". August 15, 2004 – via Haaretz.
- ^ "Aide McGreevey Cited Says They Never Had an Affair". The New York Times. September 18, 2006.
- ^ "Ex-aide denies McGreevey relationship". wthr.com. September 19, 2006.
- ^ "Lawyer: McGreevey's accuser will not sue". NBC News. August 30, 2004.
- ^ "Israeli accuses former NJ governor of assault". The Jerusalem Post. September 19, 2006.
- ^ Healy, Patrick (2004-08-16). "Ex-Aide Tells Israeli Paper Of a Relentless McGreevey". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-12.