A Republican running for Congress in Connecticut fell out of the race Tuesday – hours before polls opened for the state’s primary – after he was arrested over a violent encounter with an ex-girlfriend.
Thomas Gilmer, the GOP’s undersigned candidate, was arrested late Monday night, according to a statement from Wethersfield Police. He was charged with first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree strangulation and released after placing a $ 5,000 bond.
Authorities were first contacted on July 22 regarding a possible domestic attack and subsequently opened an investigation. The Hartford Courant reported Tuesday that the charges against Gilmer are thought to stem from a violent altercation with a former girlfriend.
Second Congress District Candidate Tom Gilmer was arrested yesterday. With the seriousness of the accusations, Mr. Gilmer ended his campaign.
– CT GOP (@CTGOP) 11 August 2020
Gilmer issued a statement to the Courant, saying he was bending out of the race because he found himself “in a position where I have to place my family and our shared Republican values in my own interests. “
“I can not advance in good conscience in this campaign, while at the same time I am forced to delete my name. And delete my name that I will, ‘he admitted.
Gilmer ran for the 2nd Congressional District, which was held by Rep. Joe Courtney
Joseph (Joe) D. CourtneyNavy Advises To Reinstate Crozier As USS Captain Theodore Roosevelt: Report Overnight Defense: Air Captain Captain Removed From Duty After Pleading For Help With Outbreak | Trump expands use of defense law in building fans | Hospital ships receiving few patients Airline captain is removed from duty following plea for help with coronavirus outbreak MORE (D) since 2007 and is considered a solid Democratic seat.
“While I currently have to withdraw my name from the vote, I trust that our fight against Joe Courtney’s radical agenda will live on in each of you,” Gilmer said. “But ultimately, our movement – built on the foundations of good, old-fashioned Yankee conservatism – is too important to stand by the accusations – accusations that I intend to combat.”
Gilmer’s main opponent, Justin Anderson, announced in the spring Connecticut GOP chairman JR Romano that there was video of the alleged fight between Gilmer and his ex-girlfriend.
“If you see domestic abuse, you can not ignore it,” Anderson said.
Romano said he encouraged Anderson to contact police and recommended that the victim meet with a domestic violence adviser.
“When someone with accusations came to us, we encouraged them to go to the authorities,” Romano said Tuesday, according to the Courant.
Romano, however, was criticized for not acting on the allegations against Gilmer earlier.
“Instead of investigating the issues over the past three months, party leaders have taken part in the kajoling, victim-shame, and Mr Anderson, and doubt his integrity,” Anderson’s campaign said in a statement. the members of the Republican Town Committee. “It was Justin’s goal to treat the accusations privately among leaders to protect the victim, however, party leaders made this public to discredit Mr. Anderson.”
Gabe Rosenberg, spokesman for the state’s Connecticut secretary, told the newspaper that election officials had not received formal notice of Gilmer’s withdrawal from the race.
“He’s going to be the whole ballot box today,” Rosenberg said. “It’s too late to get him on the ballot.”
It is unclear what will happen if Gilmer wins the primary.
The party could nominate a candidate if he formally leaves. Unless he officially announces the secretary of state’s office, Gilmer will remain in the November vote if he wins Tuesday.
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