Bristol Palin, fiance call off engagement

Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, the teenage daughter of Gov. Sarah Palin, have broken off their engagement, he said Wednesday, about 2 1/2 months after the couple had a baby.

Johnston, 19, told the Associated Press that he and Bristol Palin, 18, mutually decided “awhile ago” to end their relationship. He also said some details of the breakup, rumors of which had been swirling on the Internet, were inaccurate.

Bristol Palin said in a statement that she was devastated about a report on Star magazine’s website that quoted Johnston’s sister, Mercede, as saying Bristol “makes it nearly impossible” to visit the teenagers’ infant son, Tripp. The baby was born Dec. 27.

“Unfortunately, my family has seen many people say and do many things to ‘cash in’ on the Palin name,” said the statement, which was issued through the governor’s political action committee. “Sometimes that greed clouds good judgment and the truth.”

SarahPAC spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton did not immediately respond to calls seeking more information. The governor’s spokesman, Bill McAllister, declined to comment.

Sarah Palin revealed her daughter’s pregnancy days after being named Arizona Sen. John McCain’s running mate on the Republican presidential ticket.

Palin said in December that her daughter and Johnston were “committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished: to provide a loving and secure environment for their child.”

In an interview that aired on Fox News last month, Bristol Palin said her fiance saw the baby every day and described him as a hands-on dad.

Johnston and Palin had said they were considering a summer wedding.