Gay former governor, ex-wife blast each other

updated 11:00 p.m. ET June 13, 2007

TRENTON, N.J. - The estranged wife of former Gov. James E. McGreevey claims that his accusations of homophobia have hurt her book sales. He blames her taste in clothing.

Dina Matos McGreevey, who is in the midst of a bitter divorce from the former governor, has charged in court papers that his comments calling her homophobic harmed the sales of her recently released memoir.

But in a letter to a family court judge, McGreevey blamed his wife's May 1 interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," citing "her awful appearance" in "an inappropriate and ill-fitting ballgown with a plunging neckline."

He also called her book "poorly written" and "dull" and derided as "unbelievable" her assertion that she didn't know he was gay, according to a story posted online by The Star-Ledger of Newark.

The letter was sent as Superior Court Judge Karen Cassidy considered whether Matos McGreevey can claim that her former husband libeled and defamed her when he called her homophobic.

James McGreevey, 49, proclaimed himself "a gay American" in 2004, acknowledging he had an extramarital affair with a male aide and announcing he would resign that November. The aide denies having an affair and claims he was sexually harassed.

Telephone messages left Wednesday for James and Dina Matos McGreevey were not immediately returned.

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