Wife Says Pickering's Affair Ended Career, Two Marriages | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Wife Says Pickering's Affair Ended Career, Two Marriages

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Chip Pickering's estranged wife, Leisha, filed a lawsuit today against the woman she says ruined her marriage and her husband's political career.

Leisha Jane Pickering, estranged wife of former Republican U.S. Rep. Charles "Chip" Pickering, filed a complaint in Hinds County Circuit Court this morning against Elizabeth Creekmore-Byrd for alienation of affection. Leisha Pickering alleges in the suit that her husband and Creekmore-Byrd had a long-standing relationship that began and ended once before the Pickering marriage, and resumed during Chip Pickering's congressional career in Washington, D.C.

Creekmore-Byrd divorced her husband, Dr. Byrd, in 2007, according to the suit, so that she and Chip Pickering could be together. She then insisted that Pickering not accept former Sen. Trent Lott's Senate seat so that he could divorce his wife and the two of them be together.

"t was always the plan that (Chip) Pickering would assume Lott's Senate position when he retired. ... Creekmore-Byrd insisted that if Pickering accepted the position in the Senate that their relationship would not be able to continue and that Pickering being in public life would have to remain married to Plaintiff, Leisha Jane Pickering. Therefore, they would not be able to continue their relationship. Ultimately, Creekmore-Byrd gave Pickering the option to remain a public servant or become a private citizen and continue relations with her.

"After Pickering's rejection of Governor Haley Barbour's offer to the vacant Lott position, and because Pickering did not want to lose the love and affection of his paramour, Creekmore-Byrd, Pikering made the decision to leave his wife and five children to be with Creekmore-Byrd"

Chip Pickering filed for a divorce from his wife in 2008, which has not been granted. He retired from Congress in January. According to the suit, Pickering rented a house "a short distance" from Creekmore-Byrd, but "over 30 miles away from his family."

Creekmore-Byrd is on the board of Telepak, which owns Cellular South. The wireless carrier, based in Ridgeland, "secured the services" of lobbying firm Capitol Resources, which "employed (Chip) Pickering and has created an office in Washington, D.C. for him."

Read the lawsuit (PDF, 1.7 MB)

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