Jan 22, 2010 7:47 pm US/Eastern

Spurned Mistress Of Obama Advisor Takes Revenge

Highlights Relationship On Billboards In Several Cities

NEW YORK (CBS)

The billboard reads: Charles and YaVaughnie, "you are my soulmate forever." YaVaughnie Wilkins is the mistress, Charles Phillips, the head of Oracle Corporation, an advisor to President Obama, and married. Wilkins apparently had these billboards put up in Times Square, Atlanta and San Francisco after Phillips reconciled with his wife.

Dianna Musumeci of Kings Park approves "Good for her," she said. "You're cheating on your wife and then you go back to the wife."

"That's karma. What goes around comes around," said Tevin Gaider, D.C. resident.

On the bottom of the billboard was listed a website, filled with pictures of the affair and plenty of personal notes. Phillips released a statement saying: "I had an 8.5 year serious relationship with YaVaughnie Wilkins. My divorce proceedings began in 2008. The relationship with Ms. Wilkins has since ended and we both wish each other well."

Not going to happen, said infidelity expert and author of the book "Is he cheating on you?" Ruth Houston. "This is what happens when men cheat and don't check out their mistresses out."

"Pick better judgment in girls. That is ridiculous," said Anthony Spillman, D.C. resident.

Houston said the revenge factor was huge, and infidelity often tears everything apart. "Look at John Edwards. Look at Steve McNair. An out of control mistress can cost you your job, your wife, your marriage, all sorts of things. It cost Steve McNair his life."

She said infidelity was an epidemic affecting 80-percent of marriages and relationships in one form or another, and if you're going to take the risk you need to know who you're dealing with.

"You should not be out there cheating. If you're going to cheat, protect yourself and your family by checking these women out. You don't know who they are. You don't know what they're capable of doing," said Houston.

Houston said the best place to start is on the computer. You can either do your own investigation or there are plenty of websites where you can get background checks in minutes.

The billboards were taken down Friday after the scandal broke, but the damage was already done. While the billboard company wouldn't release how much Wilkins paid for the revenge campaign, it's been estimated it may have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

LINK TO VIDEO:

http://wcbstv.com/local/mistress.obama.advisor.2.1443533.html

 
CBS