May 13, 2008 1:01 pm US/Eastern
McGreevey Divorce Trial Postponed Due To Illness
ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) ―
The divorce trial of former Gov. Jim McGreevey and his
estranged wife is postponed because of illness.
Court spokeswoman Sandra Thaler-Gerber didn't say who is
sick. She says the judge will decide
later Tuesday whether the case will resume Wednesday.
The nation's first openly gay governor was set to take the witness
stand because he couldn't reach an agreement with Dina Matos McGreevey on
alimony and child support payments.
New
Jersey's former first couple are at odds over how to
divide their assets and liabilities as they end their four-year marriage.
The couple hashed out a deal on custody of
their only child, 6-year-old Jacqueline, after three days of negotiations last
week.
However, McGreevey lawyer Stephen Haller left
the Union County Courthouse Monday
saying no progress had been made toward resolving the couple's financial
issues, and court spokeswoman Sandra Thaler-Gerber said the judge was preparing
to take trial testimony.
Matos McGreevey is seeking additional money
based on her claim of marriage fraud; she says she was duped into marrying a
closeted gay man who needed the cover of a wife to advance his political career.
McGreevey, 50, resigned in 2004 during his
first term in office following a nationally televised speech in which he
acknowledged being "a gay American" and said he had an affair with a male staffer.
The staffer has denied the affair and claims he was sexually harassed by
McGreevey.
The McGreeveys have been separated for nearly
as long as they were living together, having split when they moved out of the governor's
mansion and into separate residences.
The former governor, now openly gay and living
with a male partner, is studying at an Episcopal seminary.
Matos McGreevey, 41, recently has been seen on
cable television as a guest analyst.
The divorce trial is expected to last about two
weeks.
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