SANFORD, Maine (AP) — The romantic partner of a Maine state lawmaker who faces domestic violence charges said in court Wednesday that the assault did not occur and the case should be dropped.
State Rep. Lucas Lanigan, a Republican, turned himself in on Monday on a domestic violence aggravated assault charge. A police affidavit about the case states that the partner confronted him and a woman at a storage facility in Sanford, and that Lanigan then choked the partner for about 20 seconds.
But during the lawmaker’s initial appearance in court Wednesday, Lanigan’s partner made a statement denying that the assault had occurred. Lanigan is scheduled to return to court in March, according to Lanigan’s attorney, William Bly.
Bly said he intends to fight the charges, which he feels have no merit, and that he would enter a not guilty plea when the time comes. A spokesperson for the district attorney’s office declined to comment on the case Thursday.
Maine Democrats called on Lanigan to resign earlier this week in light of the charges. The Republican leader of the Maine House, Billy Bob Faulkingham, said in a text that the case will be resolved in the courts.
Lanigan represents communities in the Sanford area in the Legislature. Before his election to the Maine House, he served on the Sanford City Council from 2016 to 2021.
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