Politics

N.Y. Mayor In 'Love Nest' Row

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

June 6, 2001 / 10:41 AM EDT / CBS

Mayor Rudy Giuliani has angrily denied a newspaper report that he and his girfriend used the St. Regis Hotel as a "love nest."

"It's scurrilous, it's malicious," Giuliani said of the story in the New York Post. "The next thing I'll tell you is that I'm going to have my lawyers write to them and ask them for a retraction." A letter from lawyer Kenneth A. Caruso to the Post, which was circulated to reporters, called the report false and defamatory.

The Post stands by its story, Col Allan, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, said in a statement. Indeed, the newspaper followed up its original report with a story quoting five unidentified sources as saying Giuliani and his girlfriend, Judi Nathan, had stayed at the hotel. The Post called them "suite-hearts."

The "love nest" controversy is fallout from the messiest marital battle in U.S. politics. Last fall, Giuliani filed for divorce from actress and television personality Donna Hanover, 51. The two of them still live in separate rooms in Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence, with their two children, Andrew, 15, and Caroline, 11.

Giuliani has said he wants to spend his life with girlfriend Nathan. A few weeks ago, the judge who is hearing Giuliani's divorce barred Nathan from Gracie Mansion as long as the mayor's children live there.

From time to time, both sides in the dispute have used the media to argue their case. As a result, the mayor's marital woes have become a public spectacle in the nation's media capital.

In the latest development, Nathan's ex-husband is seeking custody of their 16-year-old daughter, saying Nathan's romance with Giuliani has strained her relationship with the girl.

Bruce Nathan alleges in a custody petition that his ex-wife and Giuliani have mistreated and upset the girl. Nathan says his daughter is disturbed by all the publicity surrounding her mother's life and has suffered problems in school as a result.

Bruce Nathan's custody petition was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court late Monday. The Nathans divorced in 1992; the girl has lived with Bruce Nathan and his present wife since last December, although her primary residence of record is with Judith Nathan.