Sweeney portrays himself as abuse victim BY JIM MCGUIRE Gazette Reporter
Accusations of domestic violence and mutual fear set the tone Monday in state Supreme Court where interim agreements were reached in the divorce case of former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney and his estranged wife, Gayle. The couple, who have been married three years, and their lawyers met behind closed doors Monday before Supreme Court Judge Richard T. Aulisi. The case was moved from Saratoga County after judges there cited conflicts and recused themselves. Though lawyers for the couple stressed the possibility of a quick settlement to the divorce action that John Sweeney filed July 11 in Saratoga County, partisans for both sides, including advocates for three battered women’s groups, traded accusations of domestic violence. Sweeney’s first wife, Betty Sweeney (mother of his three children who were also present), defended her ex-husband, asserting he never engaged in domestic violence. Citing alleged bite marks and other injuries Sweeney claims were inflicted by Gayle Sweeney, Betty Sweeney said “I was just appalled.” Gayle Sweeney left the courthouse through a back door and did not speak to reporters. Her attorney, Michael Friedman, declined to discuss the particulars of the agreements reached Monday, but expressed optimism the case can be settled. He described the interaction between the parties Monday as “as civil as these things can be.” News of the divorce case surfaced last week after John Sweeney obtained an order of protection against his wife. He reminded reporters Monday that he obtained the order against his wife and said he remains afraid of her. Sources said Gayle Sweeney obtained a matching order Monday against her husband. Mary Richmond, executive director of the Protective Mothers Alliance for Justice, accused Sweeney of a pattern of domestic violence that led Gayle Sweeney last week to hire bodyguards. Richmond said John Sweeney took steps in preparation for the divorce that cut off Gayle Sweeney’s access to the couple’s money and left her destitute. “That’s a tactic often used by men,” Richmond said of John Sweeney’s seeking the order of protection. If Gayle Sweeney inflicted any injuries on her husband, Richmond said, it was self defense. When reporters later relayed Richmond’s claims to John Sweeney he denied them and questioned how Richmond could know what occurred in his marriage. Sweeney blamed his loss last November to Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand on news reports of the December 2005 incident in which Gayle Sweeney called police to accuse her husband of assaulting her. He said there were many issues in last year’s campaign, but in the fi nal days the news media focused on the domestic violence story. Sweeney and his lawyer, Karen Gazda, portrayed him as the victim. Gazda said she has a DVD showing bite marks and other injuries she said were inflicted by Gayle Sweeney. In response to questions about the accusations made by the battered women’s advocates, Gazda said, “Let’s be clear that domestic violence cuts both ways.” Gazda said John Sweeney never struck his wife. Sweeney said the revelation of his wife’s police complaint forced him to choose between saving his marriage and saving his seat in Congress. “If I stood up and said exactly what happened it would have cost me my marriage,” he said of the December incident. Gazda quoted from the original police blotter records, which she said recorded Gayle Sweeney admitting she was intoxicated and warning her husband, “Here it comes; are you ready?” In her telephone conversation with police that December, Gazda said, Gayle Sweeney also said, “I’m drunk … everything’s fine.” On Monday the two sides agreed to interim terms concerning living accommodations and finances, sources said. John Sweeney, who owned the home prior to the marriage, will continue living there while negotiations continue. Officials said the case is adjourned until the two sides schedule a new court date.
Sources: Sweeney divorce settled Ex-lawmaker, wife traded accusations BY JIM MCGUIRE Gazette Reporter
Former Rep. John Sweeney and his wife, Gayle, have settled their divorce case, sources familiar with the case said Tuesday. The Sweeneys, who exchanged accusations of spousal abuse when the divorce action became public in July, were scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon in state Supreme Court in Fulton County to address final issues holding up the settlement. But, sources said, lawyers for the parties notified the court Tuesday of the agreement. The case was moved to Fulton County before Judge Richard T. Aulisi after judges in Saratoga County, the Sweeneys’ home county, recused themselves. Terms of the settlement remain confidential. John Sweeney’s lawyer, Karen Gazda of Clifton Park, was in court Tuesday afternoon and unavailable for comment, a secretary said. Gayle Sweeney’s attorney, Michael Friedman of Delmar, did not return a telephone call. The two lawyers attended a conference last week with Aulisi. Their clients did not appear. When the parties appeared before Aulisi July 23, Gayle Sweeney was accompanied in court by officials of three domestic violence organizations. The officials conceded they had no proof, but portrayed Gayle Sweeney as a victim of domestic violence. The divorce case surfaced in July after John Sweeney obtained an order of protection against his wife. At the July 23 court appearance Gayle Sweeney obtained a matching order of protection against the former Republican congressman for the 20th U.S. District. John Sweeney claimed his wife bit him and inflicted other injuries. One of the domestic violence officials present that day said if Gayle Sweeney injured her husband it was in self defense. Gazda, speaking outside court July 23, said John Sweeney never struck his wife. In the final days of Sweeney’s unsuccessful re-election campaign last November, news reports disclosed Gayle Sweeney called police in December 2005 to claim her husband assaulted her. Though Gayle Sweeney retracted that accusation at the time and the Sweeneys responded to the news report last November by denying anything occurred, John Sweeney claimed that the domestic vio- lence story cost him the election. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand won. “If I stood up and said exactly what happened it would have cost me my marriage,” he said of the December 2005 police complaint. Gazda, speaking to reporters July 23, said the police records of Gayle Sweeney’s 2005 complaint quote her as retracting her initial accusation. “I’m drunk … everything’s fine,” Gazda said Gayle Sweeney told police.
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