Jackson responds to report he punched man, pushed partner 40 years ago
Senate candidate paid a $50 fine for a misdemeanor fight charge
Senate candidate paid a $50 fine for a misdemeanor fight charge
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson and his partner, Lana Pelletier, are responding to a Bangor Daily News article claiming that Jackson punched a man and later pushed Pelletier in 1988. Jackson admits he punched the man during a fight when he was 19. He would later be charged with a misdemeanor and fined $50. But both he and Pelletier deny Jackson was violent toward her or any other woman.
The article published Wednesday claims Jackson went to an unnamed man's Fort Kent home in March 1988. The report also quotes Pelletier telling police that Jackson allegedly pushed her after the incident.
“I do not remember making the statements attributed to me, and they are not accurate. This is the first time I have seen this report from 40 years ago." Pelletier said in a statement to Maine's Total Coverage. "Troy and I have built a life and family together, and I know the person he has been through the decades since, both as a caring partner and father. I understand Maine voters want to learn about Troy as he seeks to represent them,m but personal attacks on my family are unacceptable."
Jackson and Pelletier are not married but do have two children together.
"Nearly forty years ago, when I was 19 years old, I got into a fight with another man. I took responsibility for it then, and I take responsibility for it now." Jackson also said in a statement. "But let me be clear: I have never been violent with my partner Lana, or any other woman. This happened nearly four decades ago, and I assure Mainers this incident in no way reflects the man I am today or the life I've led in the years since."
The article comes as some of Jackson's opponents attempt to focus voters' attention on his temper. An advertisement from the Republican-affiliated Senate Leadership Fund quoted a now-deleted social media post that claimed the former Maine Senate President once threw a water bottle at a female colleague in the legislature. Our partners at Politifact found that allegation to be false.
"Mainers know Troy, trust him, and believe him and Lana. We’re not going to hold a fight against him that happened over 40 years ago when he was 19 years old. He took responsibility for this fight back then, and he’s taking responsibility now," said Cathy Breen, a Jackson campaign surrogate, in a statement to Maine's Total Coverage.
Jackson is looking to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins this November. Collins' campaign told Maine's Total Coverage that it does not have a comment on the report at this time.