Put yourself in her shoes.
You find a young man, share the same values, fall in love, have kids, find yourself in the Governor's office and because of your love of politics, get all the way to the Seat of Power.

Sure you've seen your loved one abuse his priviledge, but at the time it's barely a blip on the screen.
Denial.
Looking at the big picture.
You're on the biggest and best ride of your life.

Was she the victim or the player?

We can sit on the sidelines and judge this all we like, but no-one can say what it really was like in the middle of their situation (because none of us mere mortals would experience it!)