I posted this in the thread in Congressional Elections but it fits here too:
TN-04 News!
A watchdog group has
filed a complaint about with the Tennessee Department of Health over DesJarlais's conduct.
Mitt Romney's campaign
quietly removed DesJarlais's endorsement from their website last week, without making a comment on the matter.
DesJarlais has responded to everything by highlighting that it was a difficult time for him, in the midst of a long two-year divorce, but emphasizes that she ended up not being pregnant so she didn't get an abortion. He also points out that he's been happily married for the last decade, and claims these allegations were brought up by "a disgruntled, defeated ex-congressman, a vindictive ex-wife, and a desperate Democratic candidate." TNGOP has released a statement supporting DesJarlais, but when reporters asked Governor Haslam and Senator Alexander about it they both dodged the question and made no comment in support of the Congressman.
Stewart's first ad is up. It attacks DesJarlais for voting to raise taxes, trying to "destroy Medicare", increasing the deficit, opposing pay raises for soldiers, and "chickening out" of a debate with Stewart.
And here's some more fun facts! (From the links in the quote above, mostly. Emphasis below is my own)
The DesJarlais campaign has dismissed the details as "old news" and personal attacks by the congressman's opponents from the last election cycle. But while the 2010 campaign did feature allegations raised during his divorce that he intimidated his ex-wife with a gun — and in one instance put a gun in his mouth for three hours — the abortion element was not public knowledge until this week.
"First, there was never any pregnancy and there was no abortion," he said. "Second, my ex-wife and I had been separated for quite some time before this incident. There was an agreement in our separation that both she and I could see other people while finalizing the divorce. To say that I had a mistress or that I had an affair is inaccurate."
According to court records, the couple had a "written" agreement at some point regarding "dating" others. But the court records make clear that the pair had been trying to reconcile for a year when the call was recorded in September 2000, and that both had ceased making charges in court. It's unclear why the reconciliation collapsed, but it happened shortly after the call was recorded.
DesJarlais admitted to at least four affairs, according to the court filings. The judge on the case said DesJarlais' indiscretions caused the marital problems.
What a great guy!
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