In testimony Romney said he backed the deal to give Stemberg’s wife a special class of stock ‘‘as a favor to Tom. It was something that was done in my opinion, it was initiated as a favor. Tom needed to have a settlement with his wife so that was the genesis of it.’’

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Stemberg’s ex-wife wants to give the public her opinion of Romney but can’t unless the order is lifted.

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Maureen Sullivan Stemberg sued her husband in 1990, arguing that he had failed to reveal the true value of Staples stock in their property settlement agreement.