July 9, 2007
Posted: 02:04 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa emerged from seclusion Monday to attend a news conference on school funding, his first public appearance since he confirmed an extramarital affair with a TV newscaster.

Villaraigosa maneuvered through reporters in the hallway before the event, flashing his trademark smile but ignoring shouted questions about reporter Mirthala Salinas. When asked if he was trying to burnish his image by returning to city business, he replied: "Just doing my job."

Villaraigosa, 54, disappeared after confirming his relationship with Salinas on July 3. He had no public appearances on the Fourth of July and skipped the official opening of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's Los Angeles headquarters even though he is a national co-chairman of her presidential campaign. Salinas, a 35-year-old reporter for Telemundo's local affiliate, KVEA, once covered the mayor as a political reporter for the Spanish-language station. She was removed from the beat about 11 months ago.

The station placed her on leave Thursday while it investigates whether her relationship with Villaraigosa breached journalistic ethics.

Filed under: Uncategorized


Anonymous   July 10th, 2007 11:12 am ET

That is the problem when people don't respect boundaries. I hope they receive no amnesty or sanctaury from voters or reporters.

Ann Brunswick ME   July 9th, 2007 11:17 pm ET

Well, it is CA after all.

Perry, Dallas, Texas   July 9th, 2007 7:18 pm ET

I seriously doubt that this is the first time that a reporter has put out for a politician for the sake of career advancement. A classic example of quid pro quo.

katheg   July 9th, 2007 5:29 pm ET

WOW Villaroigosa is Hillary's National co-chair for her campaign??? What a move Hill - get that mexican vote. I guess I see why you were in favor of that foolish immigration bill. WOW, WOW.Don't you know once these illegals see that all you are interested in is "the vote", and that you Hill are probably one of those who says, "send them all back to Mexico"

Larry Tierney Dunedin, FL   July 9th, 2007 4:26 pm ET

What a great story. Hope they get Jerry Springer to invite them on his wonderful show with all the other misfits.

Small Mouse-smaller brain.

Leslie Croomer, Los Angeles, CA   July 9th, 2007 3:46 pm ET

"Telemundo did the right thing…" Are you kidding me? Telemundo knew about this affair a long time ago and "milked" this story for themselves, taking full advantage. Their coverage of the whole affair (before the people at NBC found out) has been total gloating, treating the story about their reporter doing the mayor as an exclusive, and of course the ratings jump.

AND now, the guys who have known for a year about Mirthala´s nonbinding relationship with the mayor, took advantage of her access to the corridors of power, and had this “exclusive” story at the top of several of their national newscasts, are blaming her, yes very typical.

ACA, San Diego, CA   July 9th, 2007 3:22 pm ET

I don't understand why this even made the news. This has nothing to do with how he is handling his job as mayor. It's the mayor's personal life, and there are really no benefits to smearing his personal business all over the news.

Will - Miami, Fl   July 9th, 2007 2:56 pm ET

This is SO not important. How the heck can an affair story about a MAYOR make it to the big time? This is the SHOW it's not a local politics gossip column.

Why don't you try posting stories about how Ron Paul won the straw poll in New Hampshire (by a landslide) or how he came in second place in a straw poll in Georgia? THAT would be considered national political news you hacks!

DJ, Los Angeles   July 9th, 2007 2:39 pm ET

Telemundo did the right thing for dismissing the reporter while they investigate ethics violations.

Antonio Villaraigosa should also do the right thing and just resign. It is embarassing for himself, the city and as the national co-chairman for Clinton's campaign.

People are tired of politicians that cheat on their wives and sneaky behavior.

Kim, Mpls., MN   July 9th, 2007 2:12 pm ET

I'm sure Hillary will forgive him too.

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