As a personal rule, I avoid doing any research on the private life of someone I plan to interview for the first time, particularly if the person is a public office holder. I like to get my ‘feel’ of the person, and get to know him/her without having already formed an opinion about the person
based on foreknowledge of their affairs, other people’s assessment, or their background. This rule has always served me right because I always get to meet, and in- teract with the
