GOP candidate Sean Parnell suspended his bid for the U.S. Senate on Monday, hours after a judge granted sole legal custody of his three children to his estranged wife after she accused him of domestic abuse.
In a statement, Parnell said: “I strongly disagree with the ruling today and I’m devastated by the decision.”
“I plan on asking the court to reconsider this decision. In the order, two of the leading factors that weighed heavily in the judge’s decision revolved around me being a leading U.S. Senate candidate,” he said. “There is nothing more important to me than my children, and while I plan to ask the court to reconsider, I can’t continue with a Senate campaign. My focus right now is 100% on my children, and I want them to know I do not have any other priorities and will never stop fighting for them. Thank you.”
A source close to Parnell said he called former President Donald Trump, who endorsed his candidacy, to inform him of his decision, according to Politico .
Parnell was an early GOP front-runner in the race, but his campaign has been rocked by allegations of domestic abuse. Laurie Snell, Parnell’s estranged wife, accused him during testimony in divorce and custody proceedings of pinning her down and choking her, as well as striking one of their children. Snell also alleged Parnell once left her along a highway and told her to get an abortion while she was pregnant. Parnell denied those allegations in court. Snell also alleged Parnell had an affair during their marriage with his now-girlfriend, Melanie Rawley, who said in her own testimony she believed the couple was separated when the relationship began.
Snell was awarded primary physical custody and sole legal custody of the couple’s three children on Monday, while Parnell will reportedly still have partial physical custody of the children for some weekends each month. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported a docket entry for the ruling that said the judge called Snell “the more credible witness.”
The Keystone State’s open seat is seen as crucial for Republicans to win a Senate majority next year, leading some Republicans to question why they should choose a candidate with Parnell’s baggage in a purple state.
Parnell, a military veteran, lost a race for Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District in the suburbs of Pittsburgh last year.
Parnell’s exit leaves a wide-open race for the GOP nomination. Some current candidates include businessman Jeff Bartos and political commentator Kathy Barnette. However, others may now choose to enter, including television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz, who was already moving to enter the race as a Republican.
Democratic candidates in the race include Lamb and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.
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