A married Nevada state representative admitted on Friday to having an extensive affair with a former intern for State Senator Harry Reid.
Nevada Rep. Steven Horsford (D-4th District) acknowledged the affair after Gabriela Linder - using the name 'Love Jones' - came forward with details of the affair in her podcast 'Mistress for Congress' and Twitter account.
'It is true that I had a previous relationship outside of my marriage, over the course of several years,' Horsford said in a statement, the Las Vegas Journal-Review reports.
'I'm deeply sorry to all of those who have been impacted by this very poor decision, most importantly my wife and family. Out of concern for my family during this challenging time, I ask that our privacy is respected.'
Nevada Rep. Steven Horsford acknowledged the affair after Gabriela Linder - using the name 'Love Jones' - came forward with details
Linder claimed that the affair began in 2009 while she was interning for former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Nevada office. At the time, Horsford was the majority leader of the Nevada state Senate
Horsford has been married to his wife - an associate professor at Columbia University - since 2000. The couple share three children.
Linder claimed that the affair began in 2009 while she was interning for former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Nevada office. At the time, Horsford was the majority leader of the Nevada state Senate.
The the then-21 year old claimed that she met Horsford at an event and later arranged to meet him through a friend. Horsford was 36 when they met.
Horsford has been married to his wife - an associate professor at Columbia University - since 2000. The couple share three children
Linder has been sharing details of the relationship on Twitter and on her podcast 'Mistress of Congress'
She said that the two had a sexual relationship off and on again until September 2019. But the two have been in communication up until April, when Linder reached out to Horsford personal number so that he could appear on an episode of a show her young son presents on Facebook. The representative appeared on the show on April 1.
Linder has stated on her podcast that her son was a result of another relationship she had while attending law school at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
She said that the two had a sexual relationship off and on again until September 2019. But the two have been up in communication up until April, when Linder reached out to Horsford personal number so that he could appear on an episode of her son's show
Their sexual relationship took place between 2009-2010 and 2017-2019, she claimed. The two maintained regular contact throughout the decade, however.
Linder asserted that she saw her podcast as 'an empowering journey' as she moves on from the relationship, which she claims she ended after Horsford refused to leave his wife in the 2020 election year.
'I decided I can't wait, deserved more and didn't want to be that person anymore,' she said. 'And I realized someone who could lie that way is not someone who would be honorable to me.'
But the mother has gone on the defensive in tweets, even sharing screenshots of conversations she claims were held between her and the representative. The exchange involves a Black Panther costume Linder said she purchased for Horsford.
The representative appeared on the show on April 1
Besides the podcast, Linder plans on writing a book on her experience.
On the third episode of 'Mistress of Congress,' Linder stated that Horsford 'looked out for her over the years, from anything from a job recommendation to financial support.'
Linder never worked directly under the politician but would not elaborate on exactly Horsford would help her.
An aide for Horsford said Linder 'never received any compensation from the congressman of from the campaign over the course of their private relationship.'
The mother has gone on the defensive in tweets, even sharing screenshots of conversations she claims were held between her and the representative. The exchange involves a Black Panther costume Linder said she purchased for Horsford
'This was a private relationship of the congressman's and this was in no way related to his public office,' the aide added.
Linder did assert that to her knowledge, the representative did not use campaign funds or money from the state to purchase her anything.
The mother, who was a senior at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, when she met Horsford, said that now realizes the politician used his status and power to manipulate the situation. She claims he never told her not to tell anyone of the affair.
The mother, who was a senior at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, when she met Horsford, said that now realizes the politician used his status and power to manipulate the situation. She claims he never told her not to tell anyone of the affair (Pictured in 2007)
'He knew how in love with him I was, and he knew what he could do and get away with,' she said. 'He knows I would support him. He never told me to keep quiet. He didn't have to. He knew I was loyal to a fault.'
Linder said she reached to Horsford through her publicist to have him on the show, receiving an email that directed her to an attorney in Washington D.C., Howard Schiffman.
According to the former intern, Horsford suggested that the issue would be damaging to everyone since they couldn't solve the situation amicably.
Linder plans to release a new podcast on Sunday but stated that she was not seeking to damage Horsford during an election year.
She does, however, want the politician to end his bid for re-election.
'If this was a story in 2018 (when Horsford successfully recaptured the seat after having lost it in 2014), he wouldn't have run,' Linder said. 'He obtained this position under false pretenses that he was a family man and man of God. He should take a step back, atone, and if people are satisfied, then he can come back into politics.'
Horsford, the only black member of Nevada's congressional delegation, made national headlines in February when he endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president.
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