Cheating politicians

Cheating politicians

Schwarzenegger's affair reminds us of Clinton & other scandals, so here's a primer.

Bill Clinton
Now that former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted he fathered a secret child , don't worry if you're finding it hard to keep these cheaters' details straight. Trips to South America. Client No. 9. Foot-tapping in the airport bathroom. With so many amorous politicians on the loose, it's easy to get mixed up. So, here's a refresher on some of the biggest recent political sex scandals, beginning with former President Bill Clinton.

When: Depends on the scandal; the Monica Lewinsky  story broke in January 1998.

Infidelity: 18-month affair with the White House intern.

Making it worse: First denied the allegations, then admitted he and Lewinsky had an "inappropriate relationship."

Stand by me: Wife Hillary Clinton initially defended her husband, calling the allegations part of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."

Lost: Impeached  on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Watch coverage of the trial.

Yikes! factor: Lewinsky surrendered a blue dress that she said contained physical evidence.

Postscript: Bill stayed in office; Hillary won a Senate seat , lost a presidential nomination and is now secretary of state.

Jim McGreevey
When: August 2004

Infidelity: Had an affair with Golan Cipel, a man who had served as his aide.tos

Making it worse: Cipel denied the affair, saying he had been sexually harassed.

Stand by me: McGreevey's wife, Dina Matos , joined him at the news conference, then later divorced him and wrote a memoir . Watch coverage of the divorce.

Lost: Resigned as governor.

Yikes! factor: His wife said that she did not know he was gay and that he duped her into marriage to advance his career.

David Vitter
When: July 2007

Infidelity: Phone number appeared in the records of a high-end Washington prostitution ring.

Making it worse: Had long championed family values, morality and ethics.

Stand by me: His wife, Wendy Vitter, defended him, saying their marriage was "not perfect." Watch them speak out about the scandal.

Lost: Seemingly nothing; refused to relinquish Senate seat, remains married.

Larry Craig
When: June 2007

Infidelity: Arrested in a Minneapolis airport men's room, where police said he tapped his foot to signal interest in sexual activity. Watch coverage of his arrest.

Making it worse: Police said he handed his business card to the arresting officer and asked, "What do you think of that?"

Stand by me: His wife, Suzanne, held his hand at the news conference. Watch it.

Lost: Didn't quit but decided not to run for another Senate term and left office in 2008.

Eliot Spitzer
Position: Former New York governor, Democrat

When: March 2008

Infidelity: Caught on a federal wiretap in March 2008 arranging to meet a high-priced call girl.

Making it worse: Signed a law raising the penalties for patronizing prostitutes.

Stand by me: His wife looked grim and exhausted at the news conference.

Lost: Resigned as governor.

Yikes! factor: Known as Client No. 9.

John Edwards
Position: Former North Carolina senator, Democrat

When: August 2008

Infidelity: Affair with former campaign videographer Rielle Hunter denied fathering her child.

Making it worse: First denied tabloid reports; later noted that his wife's cancer was in remission at the time of the affair.

Stand by me: Wife Elizabeth Edwards backed him; in her book said she didn't know if he had fathered Hunter's child.

Lost: Could damage a future presidential bid.

John Ensign
Position: Former U.S. senator from Nevada, Republican

When: June 2009

Infidelity: Affair with Cindy Hampton, a former aide.

Making it worse: Hampton was married to a staffer in the senator's office.

Stand by me: Wife Darlene Ensign reaffirmed her commitment to him
Lost: Resigned in May 2011 amid an ethics probe.

Mark Sanford
Position: Former South Carolina governor, Republican

When: June 2009

Infidelity: Affair with Maria Belen Chapur , a woman living in Argentina  he called his "soul mate"

Making it worse: Visited Chapur on Father's Day, leaving his children with his wife of nearly 20 years.

Stand by me: Wife had asked for a trial separation two weeks earlier; issued a statement saying she loved her husband.

Lost: Remained in office through January 2011, amid calls for resignation; stepped down as head of the Republican Governors Association.

Yikes! factor: Disappeared for several days to Argentina, telling his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Political sex scandals

    

Sex & politics

Italy's Berlusconi was asked to quit recently. Find out why & discover other scandals.

A powerful foreign figure was just placed under investigation for sexual misconduct and here in the United States we’re having a bout of dirty deed déja-vu.News of US politicians’ dalliances is as old as the country itself, implicating elected officials on both the East Coast and the West. While some alleged affairs stayed within the realm of rumor, other scandals remained secrets for decades, and certain accusations rocked the highest halls.Here’s a list of some salacious political scandals that were too hot for headlines.

Mark Souder 

Despite his stated beliefs, this eight-term Republican congressman ultimately admitted he and his female aide were having an extramarital affair. Amidst the fall-out, he took these steps. 

Mark Sanford

Before there were allegations, there was a vanishing act. In the summer of 2009, the then-governor of this state couldn’t be found for days. When he surfaced, the truth was revealed: he was having an international tryst. Sanford remained in office after the scandal, but faced losses at home and at work. 

Samuel B. Kent

This former federal judge was impeached by the House in June 2009 for sexually assaulting two female employees and then making matters even worse. He had served since his 1990 nomination by this president. 

John Edwards

The former senator was exposed as an adulterer in 2007. Heightening the scandal was news of a love child. Edwards’ wife took action once the news broke, but she passed away before the two could divorce. 

Eliot Spitzer

In 2008, a newspaper reported the then-New York governor had been caught in connection with a prostitution ring. Though Spitzer faced no charges, he did make this career move in the aftermath. 

Tim Mahoney

Mahoney assumed the seat of a scandal-plagued politician and got into some trouble of his own. In 2008, reports alleged that he hired his mistress, and then paid her off. Mahoney himself took this action on the claims.  

Kwame Kilpatrick

In 2008, while still the mayor of this Midwest city, Kilpatrick was caught exchanging inappropriate texts with a staffer with whom he was having an extramarital affair. Both were indicted on these charges. 

Larry Craig

The former senator  a conservative, was arrested for lewd conduct in June 2007. He pled guilty to soliciting a male police officer for sex, but then recanted. Here’s his official stance. In September, he announced he’d resign, but then retracted that, too. 

Brian J. Doyle

The former deputy press secretary for this government office was indicted in 2006 for seducing a teenage girl online. He was sentenced and registered as a sex offender. 

Mark Foley

Foley resigned from his post in 2006, after news surfaced that he was sending explicit emails and instant messages to an off-limits recipient. Considering his pet project while in office, the scandal seemed even more shocking.  

Jim McGreevey

In 2004, the former governor admitted to acts of homosexual adultery with a staff member. McGreevey held a press conference and made this announcement before saying he’d resign. 

Gary Condit

When a young D.C. intern disappeared in 2001, the five-term congressman from this state was questioned. Though he initially denied it, Condit eventually confessed to having an affair with her. He passed a polygraph test saying he didn’t know her whereabouts. 

Bill Clinton

Former president Clinton was involved in a now-legendary Oval Office affair with an intern — though at the time he flatly denied it. He eventually came clean. In 1998, Clinton received this decision from the House of Representatives and this one from the Senate. 

Robert Packwood

This former Oregon senator was forced to resign in 1995 after women came forward claiming he was guilty of sexual harassment, abuse and assault. He denied it all, but was eventually responsible for his own undoing. 

Mel Reynolds

Reynolds is a former Democratic member of the House of Representatives from this state. In 1994, he was indicted for criminal sexual abuse over a relationship with a volunteer. Despite all this, he was re-elected. He was convicted and resigned in 1995. 

Brock Adams

The former Democratic congressman and Secretary of Transportation was accused of sexual abuse in 1992 One former aide, in particular, spoke out. Adams — who denied the anonymous accusations — didn’t resign, but also didn’t seek re-election. He died in 2004 at age 77. 

Gary Hart 

Hart served as a Democratic senator for this state and presidential nominee who, in 1987, was reported to be having an extramarital affair.Photographic evidence did him in and he eventually threw in the towel. 

Robert Bauman

Former House Rep. Bauman was known for founding this type of conservative Republican organization. He was also known for a 1980 scandal involving solicitation of an underage male prostitute. 

Wayne Hays 

The Democratic Ohio congressman. who headed up this powerful committee was scandalized by talk that he hired a female staffer solely to serve as his mistress . The same year the scandal broke, Hays had married another staffer. He denied the affair at first, but soon admitted to wrongdoing and took these steps.