The wife of a Republican congressman in Maine told a judge that the incident she initially reported as assault was a misunderstanding, and her husband was only trying to protect her.
Maine State Representative Lucas Lanigan (R-Sanford), facing charges of domestic violence aggravated assault, appeared in Biddeford District Court on Wednesday, where his wife recanted initial claims that he assaulted her during a recent domestic dispute, WMTW reported.
In her statement to the court, Lanigan's wife explained the incident was a "misunderstanding," describing how she had been drinking when she confronted him over suspicions of an affair and threatened self-harm.
"He had to forcibly try to take the tools from me, so I didn't hurt myself," she told the judge over Zoom. "In the struggle, I got some bruises; it wasn't an assault, your honor."
Despite her statement, prosecutors highlighted that recanting is common in domestic violence cases and noted the initial police report, in which Lanigan's wife alleged he choked her.
The judge issued a no contact order barring Lanigan from contacting his wife for the time being.
Lanigan is currently running for re-election in Maine's 141st District and has not indicated any intention to act on recent calls for his resignation.
His next court appearance is scheduled for March.
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