Newt Gingrich asked for ‘open marriage,’ former wife says

By Shira Schoenberg, Globe Correspondent

An ex-wife of Newt Gingrich told ABC News’s “Nightline” that the Republican presidential candidate wanted an “open marriage.”

In a published clip of Brian Ross’s interview with Marianne Gingrich, which aired last night, Marianne Gingrich said her husband wanted her to accept the fact that he had a mistress. “He was asking to have an open marriage and I refused,” she said.

Marianne Gingrich said Newt Gingrich admitted to his six-year affair with Callista, a congressional aide who is now married to the candidate. Newt Gingrich allegedly said Callista “doesn’t care what I do.”

Asked for her response, Marianne Gingrich said she responded, “No, that is not a marriage.”

According to ABC News, Marianne Gingrich said her husband does not have the moral character to be president. She expressed her shock at learning that her husband conducted his affair with Callista “in my bedroom in our apartment in Washington.”

“He always called me at night,” ABC quotes Marianne Gingrich as saying, “and always ended with ‘I love you.’ Well, she was listening.”

Marianne Gingrich was the candidate’s second wife. Newt Gingrich divorced his first wife, Jackie. His first divorce, which came as his wife was being treated for cancer, has also caused some controversy.

Newt Gingrich told NBC’s “Today Show” that he would not say anything negative about Marianne, with whom he no longer has a relationship, and would leave the response up to his two daughters, who have been defending him from allegations surrounding his family.

The daughters, Kathy Lubbers and Jackie Cushman, told ABC in a statement, “The failure of a marriage is a terrible and emotional experience for everyone involved. Anyone who has had that experience understands it is a personal tragedy filled with regrets, and sometimes differing memories of events.”

The revelations come as Gingrich is rising in the polls in South Carolina, which holds its primary Saturday. It remains to be seen if they will damage his standing, particularly with Republican evangelical voters. Gingrich, who has converted to Catholicism after marrying Callista, has previously admitted to making serious mistakes in judgment.