Maverick Ross had affair with fellow MP
Rogue MP Jami-Lee Ross will not quit Parliament and has admitted to an affair with a fellow married MP.
The affair revelation came during an interview yesterday with
Newstalk ZB.
Ross admitted the affair yesterday afternoon as he released another tape of a conversation between him and National Party leader Simon Bridges, this time discussing allegations against Ross by several women.
The newly independent MP, who had said he would resign today, apologised to any women he had acted inappropriately with – and his wife.
‘‘I owe my wife a huge apology. ‘‘I have done some things that I am not proud of.
‘‘I have apologised to her in person and I am going to continue to apologise to her,’’ Ross told
Newstalk ZB.
‘‘The bottom line is I haven’t been a good husband.’’
Ross still disputed parts of the allegations, reported on by news media website Newsroom, and named the married MP he had an affair with.
But Newstalk ZB chose not to name the woman.
NEW TAPE
Newstalk ZB played a portion of the new tape yesterday afternoon ahead of a planned interview with Ross.
The tape was mentioned earlier this week and contains a conversation between Ross and Bridges on allegations about Ross’ behaviour with women.
The tape is hard to make out but Newstalk ZB believed it contained Bridges responding to Ross’ request for natural justice by saying: ‘‘Honestly Jami-Lee if I gave you natural justice on these issues it wouldn’t be four or five, it would be 15.’’
Ross discussed this conversation several days ago but he characterised it as a ‘‘threat’’ from Bridges.
Bridges has been asked for comment.
National deputy leader Paula Bennett has said the allegations were not about harassment as Ross claimed but concerned ‘‘inappropriate behaviour for a married MP’’. Ross has denied any allegations of harassment – including the ones contained in a Newsroom story that featured four women complaining of abusing behaviour, with two complaining of an unhealthy but consensual sexual relationship.
Ross said he was considering his legal options on the Newsroom story.
NOT RESIGNING
Ross also revealed he is not resigning from Parliament and will remain as an independent MP. Ross resigned as a National Party MP on Tuesday but technically remained in Parliament as an independent MP, promising to properly resign as an MP yesterday. But he told Newstalk ZB he would not be leaving, as the National Party had ‘‘changed the rules on him’’ so he did not believe he could properly fight a by-election.
If he did officially tell Speaker Trevor Mallard he was an independent, the new ‘‘waka jumping’’ law would mean he would have to leave Parliament.
‘I owe my wife a huge apology . . . I have done some things that I am not proud of.’