Could this story get any weirder? The Israeli poet that Sen. Jim McGreevey put on his payroll as a security advisor, and over whom he resigned claiming a homosexual relationship, is denying he is gay and that there ever was such a relationship.

Golan Cipel says he is straight and that he threatened to sue the Governor for repeated unwanted sexual advances.

"It doesn't bother me that it is said I am gay, but I really am not. I'm straight. On the other hand, to accuse me of being an extortionist? Someone here has lost his mind," Cipel was quoted as telling Yediot.

Cipel said his lawyers contacted McGreevey's attorneys and informed them that he planned to sue the governor. Negotiations on a settlement began, Cipel said. "They made a few proposals, but before we answered them, he decided suddenly to resign," Cipel said, adding the governor was convinced they were about to file the lawsuit. "He preferred to admit he was homosexual rather than stand opposite accusations of sexually harassing a subordinate. If you ask me, McGreevey resigned because he knew that the facts surrounding the harassment against me would come to light and he knew I could prove it," Cipel said.

Cipel says he's staying in the U.S. to see the case through.