Republican State Representative Lucas Lanigan, who is facing charges of choking his wife, won re-election by a single vote after a recount on Thursday. Lanigan had turned himself in ahead of the election, facing domestic violence aggravated assault charges.
Police reports allege that Lanigan choked his wife after a confrontation over an alleged affair. His race against Democratic challenger Patty Kidder for a state House seat was initially tied, but after a hand recount, Lanigan received 2,478 votes to Kidder’s 2,477.
Lanigan, who has denied the allegations, did not respond to a request for comment. His wife later asked for the charges to be dropped, claiming she did not believe he intended to harm her, but prosecutors are proceeding with the case, citing concerns that victims may retract their statements under pressure.
Democrats have called for Lanigan’s resignation, condemning the charges as disqualifying for public office. Meanwhile, Republican leaders, including Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, expressed concern over the severity of the charges but emphasized the importance of allowing due process to unfold in the courts.
While Republicans gained some ground in the Maine state legislature, Democrats will continue to control both chambers.
Peoplesmind
