Madoff's wife crying all the way to the bank

Bernard Madoff''s wife Ruth has said she "felt immense pain" for her husband's victims yesterday, the same day Bernard was sentenced to 150 years in jail. She did not attend court, but issued a statement to the press.

Speaking for Ruth Madoff yesterday, her lawyer read a statement issued by Mrs. Madoff. In the statement, Ruth expressed distress over the situation, insisting the man she has been married to for 49 years is not the Madoff she "knew." She also said she was embarrassed and ashamed by her husband's behaviour. Ruth initially tried to keep assets worth millions of dollars, but agreed to give up $85 million in assets to keep $2.5 million in cash. While she has been left better off than those who lost their life savings to her husband’s scheme, she may still face claims from other authorities and could be sued by investors. Ruth has faced criticism for her seeming indifference. She definitely is not receiving much sympathy from the public, and is said to be having difficulty finding a new place to live. It has also been reported that her hair dresser has told her not to come back, and the management of restaurants where she and Bernard once dined are saying they will show her the door if she shows up. Ruth is reported to have had a very close relationship with her husband, and this is the basis for much antipathy expressed against her. Massachusetts regulators allege Ruth withdrew $15.5 million (U.S.) from company accounts just before her husband confessed, which has also given her a few black marks. In many circles she is accused of having known about her husband's activities.