Ruth Madoff Breaks Silence: I Feel 'Betrayed And Confused'

NEW YORK — She's been hounded by news photographers, vilified by former clients of her husband and ostracized in high society.

She's also kept quiet for months _ until Monday.

Ruth Madoff _ memorably christened "The Loneliest Woman in New York" in a recent New York Times headline _ finally spoke out after her notorious husband got a 150-year sentence that probably makes certain she'll never see him again outside of prison.

"I am breaking my silence now, because my reluctance to speak has been interpreted as indifference or lack of sympathy for the victims of my husband Bernie's crime, which is exactly the opposite of the truth," Madoff said in a statement issued through her lawyer.

Prosecutors say her husband's multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme wiped out clients of his investment advisory firm while bankrolling an extravagant lifestyle for his family, including country estates, a yacht and international travel.

Mrs. Madoff, 68, hasn't been charged with a crime. But a judge's forfeiture order has stripped her of $80 million in assets including a penthouse apartment where she still lives. That's left her with $2.5 million that couldn't be linked to the fraud.

Since her husband's arrest late last year, negative publicity casting the Madoffs as soulless symbols of greed and excess has made her persona non grata at her regular hair salon, florist and favorite high-end eateries on the Upper East Side, the Times reported.

Her husband of nearly 50 years came to her defense while addressing the court on Monday, saying she "cries herself to sleep every night knowing of all the pain and suffering I have caused, and I am tormented by that as well"

Ruth Madoff, though not at the courthouse, later expressed her own sympathy for the victims.

"Many of my husband's investors were my close friends and family," she said. "And in the days since December, I have read, with immense pain, the wrenching stories of people whose life savings have evaporated because of his crime."

The statement didn't overtly condemn her husband, nor address the couple's future. But she suggested she identified with his victims who were blind-sided by his dark side.

"I am embarrassed and ashamed," she said. "Like everyone else, I feel betrayed and confused. The man who committed this horrible fraud is not the man whom I have known for all these years."

Comments

[indy100]

There are plenty of victims in this case, but not one of them has the last name of Madoff!

[noneIn2008]

Not very betrayed when he is taking the rap for you and many others who are deeply involved. One might guess that he has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and is taking the rap for everyone else before he checks out. Any medical exams to release?

[ebanks84]

What goes around DO come around eventually. And the rich frauds will eventually pay for their deceit and that makes me feel real good. If she had nothing to do with this crime, she should not feel bad at all to give up the criminal wealth she is holding on to. Let all that go and cleanse your mind and heart and live as a normal human being and others MIGHT be able to forgive her ignorance.

[ebanks84]

Correction: What goes around DOES come back around eventually.

[Whitley2009]

You're right. Unless she can show her money came from her family or her own efforts, it should all be thrown into the kitty for the victims. Her trying to claim total innocence at this late date is absurd.

[Tuna Ahmed]

Ruth Madoff is a victim of circumstance as any women is when betrayed by their husbands. in her case she fell from the sky to her where upon, it very unlikely she will live to pass a normal social life in the society ever so long she lives if she does live.

All men who all betray their life partner are but dangerous criminals and they all should be punished in the same way.

A valid question arises, if a person betrayed the public for personal gain of the mentioned criminal acts could be punished for 150 years imprisonment, then what should be the punishment for all those who went to war on false pretext. And got killed own braves men and women including killing and torturing innocent babies, children, women and men, ransacking countries treasury and looting the nations wealth putting country's financial and economical affairs in a devastated state? Public wants to know how and why they are still roaming about in the open and yet not taken to task and booked to face trail even after committing heinous crime as treachery with the NATION.?

[rattler99]

and you are dum* enough to believe her? The bit*h should be sued for her $2.5 million and thrown in the slammer along with her sons and husband

[NevaforLeadership]

I've got news for you. There is no draft in the United States. The military is strictly a voluntary organization.

Who put you up to writing your post?

[Harry Scrote]

Wanna bet? I's called 'poverty.'

[Harry Scrote]

IT's called poverty, sheesh, hot dog fingers/

[kapo]

If it was possible for you to swallow the Iraq war propaganda then it is possible for this woman to believe her husband was not operting a scam. People believe what what is most reassuring to them.

[Alvin4NY]

So true. Watching the fanatic Michael Jackson fans is proof of that.

[damebee]

Betrayed on all the luxuries and the diamonds she received, can I cry now or later, what a piece of garbage, trying to safe what!

[JLRoberson]

Suffer.

Or to quote from Veronica in "Heathers":
"Lick it up, baby, lick it up!"

[sexyrexy]

huh??? confused??? is she stoned??

she'd make a great baglady..

[JLRoberson]

Yes, she will.

[corkonian]

Bag lady? She's got 2.5 million - I could buy some pretty nice bags with that...

[LeroyJenkins]

pleas enough with the "victims" (yes some charities and people that had money diverted were clueless"
but many many people were getting 10% returns everyday and never,never,never asked how this man did it. they were greedy and didn't want to know.

the simple fact man of his victims were from the tribe and his investors had to be "invited" to join leads to the conclusion that many thought he was doing something special for them, something not many gentiles could get into, like a club lets say, an exclusive Pal Beach Club lets say.

[weebils]

Agree. But most people want to ignore that truth.

[Dolmance]

Still against water boarding, folks?

I didn't think so.

[Montgriz]

This poor victim of wife, living a lifestyle beyond imagining, didn't know a thing.....yikes...she probably has secret accounts in every city in Israel. and the Bahamas andSwitzerland....

[jcko]

Of course. Does the sun rise from the east?

[Tunghoy]

I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Ghofa Kyoussef.

[pghperson]

Realistically, she actually may not have known. But perhaps she might have wondered where all of that cash that financed her lavish life was coming from. Doesn't she sign a tax return like the rest of us? Or did they not file tax returns? Or were the returns all BS? Ignore, ignore, ignore - I think is what she did. It was the easiest way for her to exist. Ethical considerations were not her first priority.

[mc2714]

This is asinine. I am an independent (and highly ethical) buisnessperson. My wife knows little about the day-to-day proceedings of what I do-- she knows about what is interesting to discuss over the dinner table and such, but why would I bore her with every little detail? Oh, she is also a high-level professional in her field. I have no idea what she does at work. Seriously- most of it is completely over my head.

Why would you assume that Mrs Madoff knew ANYTHING? People wear different faces at home and in the office.

Those of you baselessly bashing this woman just resent any wealthy person, honest or not. Get over it.

[66rock]

Ah, because she was the bookeeper, remember!

[NevaforLeadership]

No she wasn't. I am no fan of many prosecutors, but give them some due.

[totaldisbelief]

She was a fixture around the office ,she watched everything and everybody.

[Donnat]

How could she look the other way when he was fleecing his own family? that's LOW.

[NevaforLeadership]

I agree. I think it is pretty asinine to assume that she knew.

But it sounds as if you and your wife may have some communication problems to which you need to attend.

I don't think she knew, but I believe she should have known.

You don't have to know every little daily detail to be curious as to how your spouse is making billions of dollars. If your wife were suddenly to start making thousands, then millions and more millions, you would be pretty dumb to continue your non-communicative pattern. You would fall to the category of stupid if you didn't take the time to find out and understand how.

[phylliscooper1]

It has been reported that Madoff was clueless about all things I.T. Other people inside and outside his organization had to know more than he has revealed.

[rich misty]

Madoff did not trade. He could run his entire scam from a paper ledger.

[Frank Halavy]

This is when torture should be legal. Once a man confesses to his crimes, it should be ok to torture him to spill out who else was on this, where is the money, how exactly he did it, etc. GET IT OUT OF HIM BY FORCE , Animals like this family do not fall under human rights protection.

[papajoemama]

It will never cease to shock and amaze me -- the hypocrisy of the dems (and i am one)...what a post...

[rich misty]

Torture was unheard of in this country except in the most horrid criminal cases before the Republicans introduced it as mainstreat culture.

Their ideology has severely hurt the country.

[Montgriz]

how do you know that person's political registration> Or if he or she is even American....get a clue...don't display such ignorance before the world.

[dolphy]

Are you serious?

[StrangeAngel]

You're worse than Madoff, by far.