(Newser)
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A Massachusetts judge rule today that Mitt Romney's sealed testimony from the divorce hearing of Staples founder Tom Stemberg can be released, after putting off the decision yesterday, the AP reports. The Boston Globe had argued that the court should reassess the gag order given that Romney is running for president. Stemberg's ex-wife, Maureen Sullivan Stemberg, believes Romney downplayed Staples' value to stiff her, a source confirms for Reuters. "He was stating for his best friend to save money in a divorce that the stock was worth very little."
In the year after Romney's testimony, Staples' value almost doubled. Romney doesn't object to releasing the testimony. "From the governor's perspective, the sooner we get at it, the better," his lawyer told the court yesterday. But Stemberg does, and strongly. "This is not an issue involving Governor Romney," his lawyer said. "This is a private divorce matter." Staples also asked for time to make sure the documents didn't contain confidential information that might harm its business.
