January 19, 2012
Newt Gingrich's Ex-Wife Blasts Him, Says He Wanted Open Marriage
Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's second wife, Marianne, told ABC News her ex-husband wanted an open marriage and that he lacks the "moral character" to serve as leader of this country. "He was asking to have an open marriage and I refused," she told ABC Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross.
Marianne, who was married to the former House Speaker for 18 years, revealed Gingrich wanted to share her with the other woman (and current wife), Callista. Marianne claimed Newt wanted both a wife and mistress, and recalled having the unpleasant conversation with him. "And I just stared at him and he said, 'Callista doesn't care what I do.'"
Marianne, who has not appeared on television since her 1999 divorce, said she is speaking out so voters will see that his campaign position on the sanctity of marriage and the importance of family values are not aligned with his past.
Newt appeared on Thursday's episode of "Today," saying, "My two daughters have sent a letter to the President of ABC News, saying from a family perspective they think this is totally wrong, and that intruding into family things that are more than a decade old is simply wrong."
Callista Gingrich was instrumental in Newt's conversion to Catholicism in 2009.
Marianne's full interview with ABC News airs Thursday at 11:35 PM/ET on "Nightline."
