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Connecticut state Sen. Alex Kasser, the first Democrat elected by her Fairfield County district in nearly a century, announced on Tuesday she is resigning from office over her bitter divorce from her estranged husband.

Kasser, a mother of three grown children, said she is no longer able to adequately perform her duties as a lawmaker amid the contentious legal battle.

The lawmaker, who is currently in a relationship with her 33-year-old female former campaign manager, has accused her Morgan Stanley executive husband of being abusive. She is being represented in the divorce proceedings by Melinda Gates' lawyer.  

'I just completed my third legislative session and I've loved my job and I've loved the responsibility of serving the public and moving the state forward. But I can no longer give the job the same attention it deserves because of my personal situation,' Kasser told The Associated Press. 'And as an elected official, I have a duty to my constituents and to the public to explain why I´m stepping down and to be honest about it.'

Connecticut state Sen. Alex Kasser, pictured left with her girlfriend, Nichola Samponaro, announced Tuesday she was resigning from office. She said her decision was prompted by her bitter divorce from her estranged husband, financial executive Seth Bergstein (right) 

Kasser made history in 2018 when she became the first Democrat to be elected in Fairfield County since 1930 (pictured in September 2019)

She was expected to submit her official resignation to the Secretary of the State's office.

Kasser, 54, upset a five-term Republican incumbent in 2018. It was her first competitive race and her victory signaled that Democrats were making inroads in what had been a Republican bastion of Connecticut since 1930. 

She was reelected in 2020 in the district that includes Greenwich and parts of New Canaan and Stamford.

Kasser, a former corporate lawyer with degrees from Wesleyan University, University of Chicago Law School and Yale University, was known as Alex Bergstein before legally changing her name in February 2020. 

Kasser claimed that her husband has been harassing Samponaro, although she said her former campaign manager-turned-girlfriend 'had nothing to do' with the end of their 20-year marriage

'Fighting For Freedom Takes Courage': State Sen Alex Kasser's Full Resignation Letter:

Kasser said she is no longer able to adequately do her job as a lawmaker because of her high-profile divorce 

'It is with deep sadness that I announce my resignation as State Senator. Serving the residents of Connecticut’s 36th Senate district has been a profound honor and a great joy. However, due to personal circumstances, I cannot continue. For nearly three years, I’ve been trying to divorce Seth Bergstein. As all survivors of domestic abuse know, emancipating ourselves is an epic struggle that takes years, requires unflinching courage and all our resources — mental, physical, and financial. Seth uses his powerful position at Morgan Stanley to enable his conduct, so I must work even harder to fight for my freedom. Because of the enormous time and energy this consumes, I can no longer serve my constituents to my fullest ability.

'In addition, I can no longer live or work in Greenwich as it is loaded with memories of the 20 years I spent raising my children here. It is too painful to be in Greenwich now that I’ve been erased from their lives, just as their father promised would happen if I ever left him. My partner, Nichola Samponaro, also grew up in Greenwich and her family have been respected members of this community for over 40 years. Seth Bergstein has tried to destroy her too — with lies about our relationship and harassing court motions that mention her 56 times for no relevant reason- she had nothing to do with ending my marriage. The truth is that Nichola’s love, support and willingness to volunteer for me, despite being publicly shamed for her presence in my life, gave me the strength to endure this personal battle and fulfill my responsibility to the public. I will not stay silent as a homophobic, entitled man attacks my partner.

'I ran for office because we need leaders who put principle before party and are loyal to facts, not factions. In court filings, Seth Bergstein accuses me of being ambitious. It is astounding that men are lauded for their ambition while women are still vilified for theirs. My ambition is to work for the emancipation and equal rights of every person and I am proud that my legislative record reflects an unwavering commitment to the principles of Truth, Justice and Democracy. I am particularly proud of introducing and passing legislation including the Parentage Act and Jennifers’ Law so that no one is shamed for who they are or trapped in an abusive situation, as I was. Going forward, I will continue to fight against bullying and bigotry in all its forms. Now that I’ve found my voice, I will never stop using it.

'I am forever grateful for the honor of representing this district and the opportunity to move the needle towards progress. I thank those who supported me during this difficult time and I wish everyone peace.'

 

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She was married in 1995 to her now-estranged husband Seth Bergstein, 55, the managing director and head of the Global Services Group at the investment bank Morgan Stanley. The couple have two sons in their 20s and a teenage daughter.

In her written public statement, titled 'Fighting For Freedom Takes Courage,' and the interview with the AP, Kasser said her personal circumstances have created an 'insurmountable obstacle.'

'For nearly three years, I’ve been trying to divorce Seth Bergstein,' she wrote. 'As all survivors of domestic abuse know, emancipating ourselves is an epic struggle that takes years, requires unflinching courage and all our resources — mental, physical, and financial. 

'Seth uses his powerful position at Morgan Stanley to enable his conduct, so I must work even harder to fight for my freedom. Because of the enormous time and energy this consumes, I can no longer serve my constituents to my fullest ability.'

Bergstein vehemently denied Kasser's clams through his divorce lawyer, arguing that her allegations were 'outrageous' and 'could not be farther from the truth.' 

'Ms. Kasser sadly continues to wage a public battle in the press while simultaneously dragging out the court proceedings,' attorney Janet Battey said in a written statement to DailyMail.com. 'Throughout the marriage, Ms. Kasser described Seth as a devoted father and patient and loving husband. 

'Seth and his three children sought to keep this matter private, but Ms. Kasser continues to make blatantly false public statements in furtherance of her own agenda. Mr. Bergstein trusts the legal system and family court and that the upcoming trial will reveal Ms. Kasser’s narrative for what it is.' 

Kasser, who previously shared a palatial seven-bedroom mansion with an estimated value of more than $8.2million with her husband and their children, said she now plans to move from Greenwich. 

'I can no longer live or work in Greenwich as it is loaded with memories of the 20 years I spent raising my children here,' she said in the statement. 'It is too painful to be in Greenwich now that I´ve been erased from their lives, just as their father promised would happen if I ever left him.'

Kasser accused her husband, a Morgan Stanley executive, of being abusive. She also claimed that he had 'erased' her from the lives of their three children. The mom is pictured with her two grown sons, right 

In her statement she says she has been subjected to harassing court motions and other abuse. 

Kasser also alleged her partner Nichola Samponaro - her former campaign manager - had also been subject to harassment from Bergstein.

'She had nothing to do with ending my marriage,' Kasser wrote in the statement.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Samponaro, the daughter of a prominent corporate attorney, has earned a Bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in feminist, gender and sexuality studies.

She has worked in politics since 2018, first serving as a campaign manager for state Representative Matt Blumenthal, then joining Kasser's first campaign for state senator, followed by a stint as a political coordinator for US Representative Jim Himes.

In June 202, Samponaro again teamed up with Kasser to run her successful re-election campaign.

Samponaro, who comes from a wealthy Greenwich family, also has worked as a licensed realtor for the past five years. 

Kasser first sued Bergstein for divorce three years ago. The case, which has attracted national attention in the financial media, is expected to go to trial later this year. 

Kasser recently hired lawyer Robert Cohen, who is also representing Melinda Gates in her divorce from Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Kasser, a deputy majority leader in the Democratic-controlled state Senate and co-chair of the General Assembly's Banking Committee, has advocated for stronger domestic violence laws.

Bergstein, 55, is pictured with his and Kasser's three children: two sons in their 20as and a teenage daughter 

She recently co-sponsored legislation that expands the definition of domestic violence to include non-physical violence or 'coercive control,' a pattern of threatening, humiliating, or intimidating acts. 

She defended her support of an amendment that would make that provision effective upon passage, saying it does not affect her own divorce case. The bill is currently awaiting Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont's signature.

'Yes, I'm fighting for my own personal freedom,' she said. 'But I am also fighting on behalf of all of those other women who are trapped in an abusive situation like I was.'