Sean Parnell loses legal custody of his children after domestic violence allegations

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Laurie Snell, the ex-wife of Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Sean Parnell, was granted primary physical custody and sole legal custody of the couple’s three children after accusing them of domestic violence, according to an order from a judge Monday. The ruling calls into question the viability of the Trump-backed candidate in the race.

During court testimony, Snell accused Parnell of cornering and strangling her as well as hitting one of their children. She also alleged that he once left her alongside a freeway and told her to have an abortion while she was pregnant. Parnell denied these allegations in court.

Snell also alleged that Parnell had an affair during their marriage to his girlfriend, Melanie Rawley, who testified in court that she believed the couple were estranged when the relationship began.

Parnell would still have partial physical custody of the children on certain weekends each month. Both parents have requested sole custody as part of the proceedings. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported an entry for the ruling that the judge deemed Snell to be “the most credible witness” in the case.

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Allegations of domestic violence caught on in the public eye when Parnell’s request to seal the divorce and custody proceedings was dismissed.

The loss of legal custody of her children could spell the end of Parnell’s candidacy for the Senate in Keystone state, where a vacant seat is seen as a must for Republicans seeking a Senate majority in the mid-election. term of office next year. Parnell’s campaign advisers told media they believe Parnell, one of the early GOP favorites, could remain a viable candidate despite allegations if he keeps custody of his children. The campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.

Parnell, a military veteran who lost a race for the 17th Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the suburbs of Pittsburgh last year and a frequent guest of Fox News, has been endorsed in his Senate bid by former President Donald Trump , who, at least before the custody decision, showed no sign of revoking her approval even after the abuse allegations came to light.

But after the allegations became public, Parnell’s fundraising numbers began to drop, signaling a difficult road for the candidate in the GOP primary, let alone the general election.

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Some Republicans in the state have questioned why they should risk their chances on a candidate with Parnell’s baggage when the race is deemed winnable for the GOP. Early polls point to a tight race in a purple state next year, and Cook Political Report has classified the race as a draw.

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