Golan Cipel (pronounced "Tzi-pel") (born about 1969) is an Israeli citizen who was hired by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey as Homeland Security Advisor on 15 January 2002 at the salary of $110,000.
Background
McGreevey met Cipel during a trip to Israel in 2000. Cipel later moved to New Jersey in order to provide outreach to the Jewish community on behalf of McGreevey's gubernatorial campaign. After McGreevey's election, Cipel purchased a home close to the governor's residence, indicating that he needed to be on-call 24 hours a day. Reportedly, the governor changed his schedule so that he could inspect the home before the purchase was completed.
Both his appointment as homeland security advisor and his subsequent career were controversial. Investigations by the news media into Cipel's history revealed few notable qualifications related to intelligence or security. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation would not grant him the necessary security clearances for the job because he was a foreign national. He was retained on the government payroll as a "counselor" at the same salary and with undefined job responsibilities. Documents show that he helped plan foreign trips for the governor, and he continued his role as a sort of liaison with the Jewish community. He ultimately resigned in August 2002, taking a position at the Trenton lobbying firm State Street Partners . He reportedly did not show up for work often enough and was terminated in May 2003.
Rumors spread of a romantic relationship between Cipel and McGreevey. Reports that Cipel would file a sexual harassment suit against McGreevey in Mercer County Court led to McGreevey's announcement on August 12, 2004, that McGreevey was gay, had engaged in an adulterous relationship with Cipel, and would be resigning as governor.
Also on August 12, Internet news editor Matt Drudge reported that the governor's office had called the Federal Bureau of Investigation, stating that Cipel had sought to extort $5 million in exchange for dropping the suit.
Cipel's version
In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz (August 19, 2004), Cipel presented his view of events, claiming to have been the subject of McGreevey's sexual harassment, and affirming that he had never actually been responsible for internal security under the governor, further stating that his "situation" was mishandled by the governor.
He added that the press has distorted his history, transforming him from a naval officer into a "sailor", and from someone who had self-published a book of poetry at age sixteen into a "poet".
He said he had "no romantic affair" with the governor, but rather was taken advantage of.
Additional allegations
On August 19, 2004, Dr. Michael David Miller of Livingston, New Jersey, in an interview with CBS, alleged that he had been sexually involved with Cipel. The following day, Miller was arrested and charged with impersonating law officers and public officials, creating false public alarm and making a false report to law enforcement. Cipel also denies having ever been involved with Miller.
See also: Charles Kushner
Sources
- Haaretz interview published in English [1]
