John Sweeney: More Republican Family Values

1:46 am EST November 1st, 2006 | Uncategorized | Comments Off

What is with Republicans who keep physically attacking women? (Pennsylvania’s Don Sherwood aka The Strangler is the other one who’s popped up this cycle, Lord knows how many others there are)

The wife of U.S. Rep. John Sweeney called police last December to complain her husband was “knocking her around” during a late-night argument at the couple’s home, according to a document obtained last week by the Times Union.

The emergency call to a police dispatcher triggered a visit to the couple’s residence by a state trooper from Clifton Park, who filed a domestic incident report after noting that the congressman had scratches on his face, the document states. No criminal charges were filed.

Gaia M. Sweeney, 36, told a trooper that her husband had grabbed her by the neck and was pushing her around the house, according to the document.

Sweeney campaign aide Maureen Donovan issued a statement late Tuesday attacking the authenticity of the document, labeling it “a piece of campaign propaganda.” The six-line statement does not address whether police were called to the residence for a domestic dispute that evening.

The Times Union confirmed several months ago, through multiple law enforcement sources, that State Police had responded to the Sweeney residence in early December to investigate a domestic dispute. The sources confirmed that Sweeney had scratches on his face when a trooper arrived, but they provided no additional information about the incident.

In the past 10 months, at least three news organizations, including the Times Union, have filed formal requests seeking disclosure of police records about the incident. State Police denied those requests and, according to agency sources, ordered that all inquiries about the matter be directed to headquarters, where officials have declined comment.

28 days ago First Lady Laura Bush campaigned for Rep. Sweeney. I wonder what she thinks about that now – maybe somebody will ask her (anyone notice how the media treats this first lady with kid gloves compared to her predecesor?). Kirsten Gillibrand is the Democrat opposing John Sweeney, and she’s currently ahead in the polls – but she’ll need every vote in her district in New York to win. (via)