NASHVILLE - A Washington-based newspaper reported Thursday that the ex-wife of 4th Congressional District Republican candidate Scott DesJarlais accused him of harassment, intimidation and physical abuse during their divorce.
Roll Call, which covers Congress, said the accusations are contained in Marion County Chancery Court motions filed in 2000 and 2001 by Susan DesJarlais against her husband, a Jasper physician who is challenging U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn.
Roll Call reported that in one court motion, Susan DesJarlais sought to obtain sole possession of the couple's home and claimed she was forced to leave the residence when her husband's behavior "became violent and threatening."
The publication said she accused DesJarlais of "dry firing a gun outside the Plaintiff's locked bedroom door, admission of suicidal ideation, holding a gun in his mouth for three hours, an incident of physical intimidation at the hospital; and previous threatening behavior ... i.e. shoving, tripping, pushing down, etc."
The term "dry firing" involves pulling the trigger on an unloaded gun.
DesJarlais spokesman Brent Leatherwood in an e-mail to Tennessee reporters called Davis a frightened "career politician" who "has responded by running a gutter campaign rarely witnessed in Tennessee's Fourth District."
Lincoln Davis campaign manager Justin Wallin was quoted calling Susan DesJarlais' allegations "very serious and disturbing."
For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.