Gavin Newsom’s excuse for ignoring relationship with teen, 19, when he was 38

Gavin Newsom has defended not detailing his relationship with model and college lacrosse star Brittanie Mountz in his new memoir.

Newsom opens up about his colorful love-life in the memoir, released February 24, including describing his affair with staffer Ruby Rippey-Tourk as the “the worst betrayal of my life.”

Then-mayor of San Francisco was in the process of divorcing his wife Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2025 when he started the two-year affair with Rippey-Tourk, who was married to his deputy chief of staff.

The affair wasn’t exposed until 2007 when Alex Tourk resigned upon learning of the affair as part of his wife’s recovery from alcoholism.

But Newsom draws the line at revealing details about a second controversial relationship Mountz, then 19, just a year later in 2006.

Newsom, who was 39 at the time and referred to as ‘Mayor McHottie’ in the local press, raised eyebrows by appearing at the 95th season opening gala for the San Francisco Symphony with her on his arm.

The chatter around the relationship led to claims Mountz changed her age from 19 to 26 on Myspace.

She was also accused of breaking the law when she was pictured holding a glass of wine at a premiere she attended with Newsom.

The mayor’s spokesman claimed he didn’t give her a drink and ‘didn’t notice’ if she was drinking.

When asked by the New York Times about the lack of detail Newsom said they ‘only went on a few dates’.

He also says in the book that he broke up with Sopranos and CSI actress Sofia Milos at the behest of oil magnate Gordon Getty, who told him she ‘wasn’t suited to him’.

Getty famously backed Newsom into the wine business that made him a millionaire.

Newsom’s second and final term as governor will end in 2027.

The 58-year-old is expected to run for the Democrat nomination for a presidential run in 2028.

He has been working to reinvented himself as a Democrat disruptor prepared to take on Donald Trump directly and the memoir is part of the strategy.

The memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, will be released by Penguin Press on February 24th.

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