Cylvia Hayes Breaks Silence, Sits Down for Interview With KATU

"Nobody in the history of the world has experienced what he experienced," Hayes says of former Gov. John Kitzhaber.

Former Oregon first lady Cylvia Hayes continued her re-entry into public life last night with the first of two interviews with WW's news partner, KATU.

There were no bombshells in the interview. Hayes expressed a strong desire to move on with her life and spoke of the difficult road her fiance, former Gov. John Kitzhaber, has walked.

Hayes waved off reporter Hillary Lake's question about whether she'd broken the law.

"I cannot wait until I can answer that," Hayes said, adding that her response would come when a pending federal investigation ends.

Hayes also declined to say much about Kitzhaber, saying he should tell his own story.

"Nobody in the history of the world has experienced what he experienced," Hayes told Lake.

Kitzhaber resigned Feb. 18, 2015, just a month after being sworn in for a fourth term as governor. He and Hayes remain under federal investigation for the influence peddling allegations that drove him from office.

As is their custom, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice have said nothing about their investigation, which began following the publication of an October 2014 WW cover story about Hayes' dual roles. She served as a policy advisor to Kitzhaber on energy and economic development, while simultaneously seeking contracts from groups seeking to influence state policy in those areas. She accepted nearly $250,000 in contracts.

Sightings of both Kitzhaber and Hayes have become more frequent in recent months.

Hayes began blogging regularly late last year and has reported in her monthly newsletter she's taken on new clients, in addition to signing on to write for a new magazine based in Bend, where she owns a home.

Hayes' choice to go on air with KATU and particularly reporter Hillary Lake was a surprise. Of all the television reporters in Oregon, Lake had been perhaps the most aggressive in chasing the story of Cover Oregon, the $300 million debacle that severely dented Kitzhaber's reputation. Kitzhaber stormed out of a 2014 interview with Lake.

But, for now, all is forgiven.

The second part of Lake's interview with Hayes airs tonight on KATU at 11 pm.

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