Kitzhaber's fiancess admits to illegally marrying immigrant

Portland, Ore. — (KGW) During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Portland’s Governor Kitzhaber’s fiancee admitted to illegally marrying an 18-year-old Ethiopian immigrant so that he could obtain residency in the U.S.

Cylvia Hayes said in exchange for the marriage, she received around $5,000, which she used to buy a laptop and pay for school expenses.

Hayes wiped away tears as she discussed the marriage that took place 17 years ago, when she was 29. It was her third marriage.

Hayes said she was “here to take responsibility and accept the consequences for what I’ve done.”

She said she never told Kitzhaber about it and he has nothing to do with the “very illegal act.”

Kitzhaber learned about the marriage after a Willamette Week report surfaced Wednesday that questioned ethics issues related to Hayes’ work as a consultant for the governor. Hayes “categorically disagreed with” the newspaper’s ethics allegations.