CT Senator caught snuggling with progressive media publisher

There is nothing like having the media in your pocket, or just a bit closer in the case of Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT).  

Pictures are flooding the internet of Murphy getting cozy with an attractive young lady about a decade his junior at an Italian restaurant.  

Rest assured, the woman was not his estranged wife, but rather a member of the media.  

In His Pocket 

On Monday, Murphy, 51, was seen getting very cozy with Tara McGowan, 39, at the Red Hen.  

McGowan is a Courier Newsroom publisher, who has reportedly turned off her X account after the story broke.  

The restaurant is just outside Capitol Hill, located in the Bloomingdale neighborhood.  

A witness said Murphy had his arm around McGowan’s shoulder while they cuddled up to look over the Italian restaurant's menu.  

The sighting took place on Monday night before Trump’s joint session address.  

Murphy is still married to Cathy Holahan, a local attorney.  

After the recent election, the couple, who had been married in 2007, stated, “After much reflection and discussion, we have decided to separate as a couple. 

“We do so with deep care and respect for each other, and with a focus on continuing to be friends and loving, collaborative parents to our boys whom we adore. 

“This was a difficult decision, but we believe that it is right for us, and we are going to move onto this new path the right way. We will continue to support each other personally and professionally. And we hope you all will stay connected with both of us.” 

Neither Murphy nor Holahan has filed for divorce yet, as far as we know. 

McGowan recently filed for divorce from Michael Halle, a former adviser for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. That filing occurred in 2023, citing the usual “irreconcilable differences.” 

McGowan has been promoting Murphy for years on her platform, and I guess we now know why. 

For instance, in November 2023, right around the same time the Murphys announced they were splitting, McGowan posted, “Beyond original newsletters, podcasts + social video series, COURIER’s new national vertical will publish video opinion pieces from prominent pro-democracy leaders fighting for our rights and freedoms, like this call from U.S. Senator @ChrisMurphyCT to ban assault weapons in [America].” 

While we cannot prove it, the timing of this does not look good for Murphy, as one could easily make the assumption that he stepped out on his wife, got caught, and she decided to let him save face publicly by making that statement above.  

Regardless, this is not a good look for a Senator to be dating a member of the media who is blatantly pushing his agenda and narratives.