U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais’s, R.-Tenn., left, and his attorney Havey Cameron listen as Judge Jacqueline Bolton hears a motion by attorney J. Gerard Stranch IV, representing the Tennessee Democratic Party, to unseal DesJarlais’s divorce records while at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Monday.A judge ordered the release of U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais’ divorce trial transcript on Monday, but attorneys said it’s unlikely that 4th Congressional District voters will see its contents before polls close today.
The freshman Republican lawmaker spent several hours of election eve holed up at the Hamilton County Courthouse as attorneys haggled over what should be public and what shouldn’t from DesJarlais’ explosive divorce case settled more than a decade ago.
Democrats gained little new ground Monday, despite an 11th-hour effort designed to expose what the state party referred to as specific details of DesJarlais’ infidelity and alleged professional misconduct as a doctor. No new records were made readily available, though weeks-old allegations against the Jasper congressman still stand uncontested aside from vague denials.
Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Jacqueline Bolton decided to have the divorce trial transcript released, but sided with DesJarlais’ attorney, Harvey Cameron, in deciding that the entire transcript should be properly transcribed before any part of it is considered public record. The transcript is more than 600 pages long and only partially translated from a Marion County court reporter’s original shorthand.
Democrats described the DesJarlais camp’s efforts as “stalling,” saying their best-case scenario was getting the full transcript from the court reporter late Monday night.