Sean Parnell, Donald Trump’s favored GOP candidate for an open Senate seat in Pennsylvania, refuted claims that he abused and harassed his children and ex-wife in a custody hearing on Monday in Butler County.
Last week, Parnell’s ex-wife, Laurie Snell, testified that Parnell choked her, pinned her down, hit their children, and frequently insulted her.
On Monday, Snell added that Parnell had a nine-month affair during their marriage. She also read text messages he sent her, in which he called her a “a liar and a manipulative sociopath,” and “evil.”
When Parnell took the stand, he testified that he had “never” gotten physical with his wife or choked her.
“It just wasn’t a good relationship,” he said.
Parnell’s lawyer argued that Snell called him a “good dad” after the alleged violence took place, so therefore she must be fabricating the claims of abuse.
Parnell will face cross-examination on Tuesday.
Parnell is a former Army Ranger and a conservative commentator. In September, Trump endorsed him for the Senate seat being vacated by two-term Republican Pat Toomey. The election, part of the 2022 midterms, is seen as a key contest in the battle for control of the Senate.
Publicly, Trump has stuck by Parnell. He’s hosting a fundraiser for him at Mar-a-Lago in January and a Trump spokesman insisted last week that Trump took “careful consideration” before putting his support behind the embattled candidate, who lost a bid for a House seat in 2020.
But POLITICO reports, “some people close to Trump think Parnell was not vetted closely enough, and that Trump was pressured by DONALD TRUMP JR. to make the nod.”
POLITICO adds:
One supporter said that some Parnell donors are worried about his ability to raise money after the trial. Parnell, who raised $1.1 million in the third quarter — a modest sum especially after the Trump endorsement — has not been a prolific fundraiser.
One adviser to the campaign said they believe Parnell can remain a viable candidate as long as he keeps custody of his children, which the judge in the case will decide in a matter of weeks. A loss in the custody battle would be difficult to withstand politically, the adviser added. The person said Parnell will likely remain in the race until a ruling, even if his campaign is in limbo, and expects to see a bounce for Parnell if it appears that he is vindicated.
Sen. Rick Scott, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, was asked about Parnell’s viability as a candidate on Monday.
“Facts will come out, we’ll find out what people think,” Scott responded.