LA Mayor Admits Relationship With Reporter

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is in the midst of divorce proceedings with his wife, acknowledged in a statement published Tuesday that he is in a relationship with a Spanish-language television reporter.

"It is true that I have a relationship with Ms. Mirthala Salinas," Villaraigosa said in a statement published in the Los Angeles Daily News. "As I've said I take full responsibility for my actions, and I once again ask that people respect my family's privacy. For my part, I intend to stay focused on my job, and to work as hard as I can every day to be the best mayor I can be."

Villaraigosa had previously declined to comment, but issued the statement after the paper told him it was set to publish a story about his relationship with the Telemundo newswoman.

Salinas moved off the political beat, which includes coverage of the mayor, about 11 months ago, Telemundo spokesman Alfredo Richard said. He said the station wouldn't comment on employees' personal lives.

Messages left after hours by The Associated Press with Villaraigosa's office and at Telemundo, whose parent company is NBC Universal, were not immediately returned.

The mayor and his wife separated last month after 20 years of marriage. Corina Villaraigosa filed for divorce June 12, a day after the mayor told reporters in a City Hall news conference that he took the blame for his crumbling marriage.