EXCLUSIVE: Jim Marchese Talks Abuse Allegations After Being Pulled From Flight & Filing $100 Million Lawsuit #RHONJ

Jim and Amber Marchese maintain that their marriage is solid, despite allegations stemming from an incident occurring on April 20th, on a flight set to fly the duo home from California.

The former Real Housewives of New Jersey couple was removed from a Virgin America flight at Los Angeles International Airport, and Jim was taken into custody by airport police, for an alleged domestic assault, against Amber. 

Airport police accused Marchese of threatening Amber and grabbing her throat. He was arrested, and later released on $50,000 bail. A few days later, Amber spoke out, defending her husband. Amber claimed that playful PDA was misunderstood, and that her husband is innocent. This week officials declined to press charges against Marchese. 

Jim spoke to All About the Tea exclusively, and clarified that he was never charged with a crime in the incident.

[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered” color=”#3366ff”]”I wasn’t charged with anything so there were no charges to be dropped. The District Attorney and City Attorney both agreed there was no case due to a lack of evidence based on one 3rd party allegation. There were no witnesses to back the claims and Amber had no injuries.”[/otw_shortcode_quote]

Marchese explains why no May 11th court appearance took place.

[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered” color=”#3366ff”]”I did not have to appear in court on May 11, because the District Attorney rejected the Felony Domestic Abuse claims made by the airport cops.” [/otw_shortcode_quote]

Jim and Amber spoke to People on Tuesday, and explained that they had been in LA filming a reality project and were returning home, on an overnight flight to New Jersey. The couple was reclined in first class, making jokes about joining the Mile High Club. Amber commented. 

“Jim put his hand behind my neck and leaned me closer to him. It was hard to hear. So he pulled me closer so he could whisper to me so the other passengers couldn’t hear us.”

Jim outlined how the incident unfolded. Jim noted the flirtation with his wife, and a flight attendant appearing to offer them a drink. Amber ordered a glass of wine, but Jim  wanted to catch a nap. Ten minutes later and still on the tarmac, Marchese was awakened by officers. 

“My understanding is that flight attendant saw my arm around the back of Amber [during the PDA], and that where the accusation came from,” says Jim. “I don’t know definitely if it was [the flight attendant], but I assume it was her because she’s the only one who could notify the captain and call the police.”

Jim explains that the airport cops separated them, but kept the couple within eyeshot of each other, while they questioned them individually, about the incident. Jim told the airport officer that he didn’t know why he had been pulled from the flight. He also noted a frustrating communication barrier between himself and the airport official. Jim tells All About the Tea,

[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered” color=”#3366ff”]”I was forced to mirandize myself because the airport cop couldn’t read English properly.”[/otw_shortcode_quote]

Amber states that two other officers pushed her to admit that Jim had attacked her. 

“[An officer] says, ‘You’re not going anywhere until you’re tell me what happened,’ ” says Amber. “People are watching, it’s embarrassing and humiliating. I’m sitting there and say, ‘Officer, nothing happened.’ He bluntly says, ‘Why don’t you tell me how your husband attacked you.’”

Amber cites details about the ordeal, noting that she, the supposed victim,  was handcuffed when she tried to walk towards Jim. The airport police would not allow Amber to speak to her husband.

[The officer says], ‘If you tell us how you’re husband choked you, we’ll take the handcuffs off you,’ ” says Amber. “I said, ‘Well then, I guess we’re not going to get the handcuffs off me.’”

Jim and Amber say that the officers did not offer any medical attention, and did not see them question or take statements from other passengers. Marchese tells All About the Tea, 

[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered” color=”#3366ff”]”If someone saw me choking my wife, why wasn’t she offered medical attention or taken to a doctor for examination?”[/otw_shortcode_quote]

Such details have raised questions about the motives of the person who alerted the airport police. Jim believes that it was simply an instance of someone looking for their “5 mins of fame.”

Jim was taken to jail and reports that he was treated well by the LAPD. The police also helped Amber navigate how to post bail, and took photos of Amber’s neck. The couple asserts that there was no sign of any bruising, and that they also took photos. They also maintain that have had no history or issue of domestic abuse within the history of their ten year marriage. 

The couple now plans to file a $100 million lawsuit against Virgin America, asserting that they should have never been removed from the flight. Jim states simply, 

“I’m suing Virgin for $100 million.”

Stay tuned as we continue to cover the story.

 

“Like” us on Facebook  “Follow” us on Twitter and on Instagram