Brinkley speaks about husband’s alleged tryst and mistreatment of her daughter

By Matthew B. Zeidman

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (Hollywood Today) 7/5/08 – Retired fashion model Christie Brinkley spent the Fourth of July barbecuing with former husband and local music legend Billy Joel, according to New York’s Daily News, but just one day before, she was in court, providing damning testimony against her current husband, Peter Cook, from whom she has filed for divorce.

Brinkley, 54, recalled being apprised of an affair Cook, 49, was having with then-18-year-old Diana Bianchi by the local woman’s stepfather at a Southampton High School graduation ceremony approximately two years ago. Cook had already confirmed the relationship, having testified Wednesday that he paid Bianchi $300,000 to keep quiet.

Brinkley also revealed on the stand that she had found e-mails sent to Cook by Bianchi, as well as evidence that suggested he was attempting to meet other sexual partners via the Internet. Cook had testified he was visiting pornographic sites simply for sexual stimulus and that Bianchi was his only relationship outside of his marriage. He reportedly had $3,000 a month porn habit.

Also brought up by Brinkley was Cook’s allegedly abusive treatment of her and Joel’s now-adult daughter, Alexa Ray, which Cook later denied on the witness stand.

Brinkley married Cook, her fourth husband, in 1996. She was the spouse of Jean-François Allaux from 1973 to 1981, Joel from 1985 to 1994 and Richard Taubman from 1994 to 1995. Of particular issue in the heated divorce proceedings are the custody arrangements of the couple’s children, 13-year-old Jack (who was born to Brinkley and Taubman and adopted by Cook) and 10-year-old Sailor Lee. Currently, Cook has visitation rights, but the two boys live with Brinkley.