( CNN ) -- The fiancée of Oregon Gov . John Kitzhaber confirmed Thursday she took part in an illegal marriage in exchange for money 17 years ago — a chapter in her life that her husband-to-be did n't know about until it came to light this week . `` This is the most painful part for me , '' Cylvia Hayes , 47 , said in a news conference in Portland . `` John Kitzhaber deserved to know the history of the person he was forming a relationship with . The fact that I did not disclose this to him meant that he has learned about this in the most public and unpleasant way . '' Fraudulent green card marriages are a federal offense , but Hayes said she needed the money at the time , when she was 29 . The two were married in Washington state . `` We met only a handful of times . We never lived together . I have not had any contact with him since the divorce finalized in 2002 , '' Hayes said in the news conference , which was recorded by CNN affiliate KPTV . Asked if Hayes could face charges , the U.S. Attorney 's Office in Oregon gave CNN a firm , `` No comment . '' Kitzhaber is running for re-election next month , having already served three nonconsecutive terms . The Democrat was first elected in 1994 and remained in office until 2003 . In 2010 , he was elected to a third term , and he 's now seeking a fourth in a race that he 's expected to win . He won his last election with 65 % of the vote . While Kitzhaber and Hayes are n't married , they 've been a couple for more than a decade and engaged since this summer , according to local news reports . Hayes has been officially referred to as Oregon 's first lady during Kitzhaber 's latest term . The story became public after the Willamette Week local newspaper reported she had an undisclosed third marriage . Further digging into the marriage found that the groom was an 18-year-old immigrant from Ethiopia , nearly a decade her junior . Kitzhaber did n't find out about the marriage until Tuesday , Hayes said in the press conference . `` It was wrong then and it is wrong now and I am here today to accept the consequences , some of which will be life changing . And I can not predict what direction this will go , '' Hayes said . CNN 's Tony Marco contributed to this report .
Oregon 's first lady said she married an immigrant in exchange for money . Cylvia Hayes said she agreed to the marriage in 1997 and got divorced in 2002 . Her longtime partner and fiancé , Gov . John Kitzhaber did n't know about it until this week . Comment: