A Democratic congressional hopeful in South Carolina is refusing to quit his campaign amid a domestic abuse report from 1973 that he has since admitted to, The Post and Courier reported.
Archie Parnell, who narrowly lost last year's special election in the dead-red state, remains steadfast despite losing national support and his staff after admitting to beating his ex-wife in the early 70s.
The Post and Courier obtained divorce records that show Parnell broke into an apartment where Kathleen Parnell was staying and struck her then and again later in October 1973.
Parnell doesn't deny it, but he also says he's a changed man, citing his current marriage and family.
"Forty five years ago, while still a college student, I did something that I have regretted every single day since. … I lashed out and became violent with other people, including my former wife, which led to a divorce and monumental change in my life," Parnell said in a statement Monday.
"These actions were inexcusable, wrong and downright embarrassing," Parnell said. "Since then, my life has been changed by a remarkable woman, two amazing daughters, a forgiving God and a career that has taught me to cherish what I have."
Despite the mea culpa, his staff left en masse once the report surfaced as have Democratic endorsements from around the country, including the South Carolina party chairman, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and CNN's Bakari Sellers.
"Archie does not belong in the United States Congress or on the ballot," The Potst and Courier quoted Sellers. "Politically, it's one less chance for Democrats to take back the House, but who cares when it comes to issues such as domestic violence?"
Parnell had earned plaudits for narrowly losing to Rep. Ralph Norman in last year's special election to fill the seat vacated by Mick Mulvaney, who leads President Donald Trump's budget office and consumer protection bureau.
Democrats were pinning their hopes on Parnell to unseat Norman in November's midterms in the state's 5th district.
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