Ruth Madoff describes hearing Bernard confess
In her first public description of the day she learned from her husband Bernard that he was running the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, Ruth Madoff says she was "paralyzed" with shock. Yet the couple still attended their company Christmas party the night before Madoff's arrest. Ruth appears in her first interview discussing her husband's crimes on "60 Minutes" Sunday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Her son, Andrew, also speaks to Morley Safer in his first interview on the same broadcast.
The following is an excerpt from the script of "Madoffs" which will air on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. ET/PT
Ruth Madoff: I was kind of paralyzed. Bernie got up and said, 'I'm going back to the office.' And--
Safer: Was he emotional in any way?
Madoff: I don't remember that either, he must have been.
Safer: Apologetic in any way?
Madoff: Probably, yes. I sort of a blank now, I'm not-- hedging here, I don't-- I just simply don't remember every detail. I was in such a state.
Safer: But-- later that day, that evening, you both turned up at the office Christmas party.
Madoff: I know, he phoned me from the office and said, 'We have to go to the office Christmas party.' So I got myself together and went over there. We stayed a half an hour. And we just went home. And the next morning, the FBI was there to arrest him about 7:00 a.m.