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Jan 2, 2007 12:32 pm US/Eastern
McGreevey Portrait Unveiled At N.J. Statehouse
TRENTON (CBS/AP) ―
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Former Gov. James E. McGreevey, D-N.J. (file)
More than two years after his stunning public declaration that he was gay and would resign, former Gov. James McGreevey took part Tuesday in a private ceremony to unveil his portrait in his old Statehouse office.
The event brought McGreevey to the Statehouse for first time since he left office in November 2004, three years into his first term. He was joined by his parents, his partner, a former secretary and by Gov. Jon S. Corzine. Several of the current governor's staffers also attended.
The timing and nature of the event had been complicated by the circumstances of McGreevey's departure. The $25,000 painting has been in storage for more than a year, and a private ceremony was at one time planned to occur this summer.
McGreevey's resignation, announced on national television during a speech best known for the line "I am a gay American," came after he announced he had a gay affair with a staffer. The man, later identified as Golan Cipel, McGreevey's homeland security adviser, has denied an affair took place and claims the governor sexually harassed him.
McGreevey's portrait hangs among those of other former governors in Gov. Jon S. Corzine's outer office. Portraits of former governors hang throughout the Statehouse; the pictures of more recent governors are displayed in the outer office.
McGreevey commissioned artist Chen Yanning to paint his official gubernatorial portrait and sat for the picture after leaving office. The painting was paid out of gubernatorial transition funds.
The delay with McGreevey's portrait had also delayed the hanging of the portrait of his successor, Gov. Richard J. Codey.
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
