Oregon gov’s fiancee admits sham marriage

PORTLAND – Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s fiancee admitted Thursday that she violated the law when she married an immigrant seeking to retain residency in the United States.

Cylvia Hayes said in a news conference that she believes she was paid around $5,000 for the 1997 marriage. She said she was “associating with the wrong people” while struggling to put herself through college and regrets her actions.

“It was wrong then and it is wrong now and I am here today to accept the consequences, some of which will be life-changing,” she said.

Hayes said she did not tell the governor about the marriage until a reporter from the Willamette Week newspaper began asking questions this week.