Schwarzenegger admits fathering child with staff member

News of former California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife of nearly three decades Maria Shriver parting ways came as a surprise to many.

Even more shocking is today’s admission by Schwarzenegger that he fathered a child with a staff member “more than a decade ago.” Shriver moved out of the couple’s mansion, according to the Los Angeles Times, after she learned of the infidelity. Schwarzenegger lays it all out in a statement he released today, which explained:

“After leaving the governor’s office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago,” Schwarzenegger said Monday night in a statement issued to The Times in response to questions. “I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry.

“I ask that the media respect my wife and children through this extremely difficult time,” the statement concluded. “While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not. “

The staffer is known to the Los Angeles Times, and in an interview earlier this month, originally claimed that her husband at the time of the child’s birth was his or her father. She has since declined to comment, and the LAT has not identified her. The unnamed staffer told the paper:

…she voluntarily left her position with the couple earlier this year after reaching a longstanding goal of working for them for two decades. “I wanted to achieve my 20 years, then I asked to retire,” she said, adding she received a severance payment and “left on good terms with them.”

Probably the best possible terms you can leave on when you have a baby with someone else’s husband, anyway.