For those of you who can't keep track of all of the Republican scandals...you're forgiven. Lately, it's like counting grains of sand on a beach.
We here in NY-20 might actually have one that's sticking in the local public eye.
It all started Wednesday when the Times Union published the following
article:
CLIFTON PARK -- 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.
Sweeney and his wife responded on Thursday claiming that the report was "untrue". They also cut an ad very quickly starring Gaia (Sweeney's wife) that insinuated that the police report was a Gillibrand campaign fabrication and plant.
Today it was announced that there would be a 5pm press announcement at the offices of E. Stewart Jones, Sweeney's lawyer. That announcement was blogged on the Times Union blog this evening.
The news, Jones said, is that he has been hired by the Sweeney campaign to investigate who leaked police records related to the Dec. 2, 2005 911 call by GOP U.S. Rep. John Sweeney's wife, Gaia/Gayle, that summoned State Police to a domestic incident at the couple's Clifton Park home.
Democratic adviser Howard Wolfson is among the targets, says Jones, who told Brendan he intends to finish the investigation by Tuesday morning.
He goes on to say that he's advised Sweeney to NOT release the report. How convenient! They're just trying to stall on this until the election is over.
Fortunately the Post Star (from the most Republican part of the district) just withdrew their endorsement of Sweeney!
The congressman's curt dismissal of the domestic violence incident as a "non-issue" demonstrates that he either doesn't understand the seriousness of this matter as it relates to his role as a member of Congress, or that he simply hopes to divert attention from it so he can win the election.
In our editorial endorsing the congressman for re-election last Sunday, we pointed out the many flaws in Congressman Sweeney's character, including his accompanying lobbyists to exotic locations, fabricating lies about his political opponents, and using poor judgement in attending frat parties. We said voters should take those factors into consideration, but that the congressman's record in helping secure funding for his district and voting in Republican interests overrode concerns about his unofficial conduct.
His response to this incident reflects disturbingly not only on his character, but on his credibility to serve effectively as a representative of all the people.
This is important. It's also important that anyone who lives in the 20th keep this story alive through the weekend. The 5pm Friday release time was no accident. The Post Star endorsement withdrawl certainly helps, but if you live in the 20th or have friends that live in the 20th, it's important to keep this one lit. This man has some serious problems. He doesn't deserve to be our representative, nor do we deserve his flawed representation.