A grand jury has officially indicted a Republican state lawmaker on strangulation and assault charges from an incident in April.
GOP Lawmaker Faces Charges
Kentucky Rep. Robert Goforth received an indicted on Friday with one count of first-degree strangulation and one count of assault in the fourth degree, the Corbin Times-Tribune reported.
According to police reports, on April 21 a woman alleged that the lawmaker strangled her with a cable until she had trouble breathing and also threatened to “hog-tie” her.
Fight Over a Phone
The report also states that the incident revolved around unlocking her phone and she left the residence after she promised Goforth she would unlock her cell phone.
The woman called 911 and Laurel County sheriff’s deputies reported seeing visible marks on multiple parts of her body.
Three children were found in the home where to alleged violent incident happened.
Goforth was subsequently arrested and was released on a $25,000 bond after almost 8 hours. Officials stated that they do not believe drugs were a factor.
On June 1, he pleaded not guilty in an arraignment before the charges went to a grand jury.
Kentucky House Speaker David Osborne decided not to comment on the lawmaker’s arrest in April.
Democrats Out for His Seat
Democrats on the other hand demanded Goforth resign after his arrest.
“State Representative Goforth should have resigned back in April and his party should have taken action against him when he refused to do so,” Marisa McNee, a spokeswoman for the state Democratic Party, said in a statement, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. “This is not the first time a victim of Mr. Goforth’s violent assaults has come forward. Republican Leadership has ignored this for far too long, it is time for them to take action. Goforth needs to go.”
The Democrat wants to take Goforth’s seat, Mike VanWinkle, also called for the GOP member to drop out.
“This district has suffered enough embarrassment and bad press over this affair,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday. “Mr. Goforth needs to remain focused on his legal case, Domestic Violence issues, and marriage. He can no longer effectively represent the citizens of the 89th District.”
