Multiple Democrats are calling on Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) to suspend his campaign for a Florida Senate seat, according to a new report.
Pressure is building for Grayson’s exit amid accusations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife, Politico reported Wednesday.
{mosads}“I’ve never thought much of Grayson as a candidate … and now it’s of course much, much worse,” Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.
“All of the things he has done, this tops the cake,” said Schumer, who is set to succeed Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) next year.
“Allegations of abuse and the way he treats it shows you that he is a bully. He ought to do the right thing and drop out.”
Schumer refused to comment over whether Grayson should also relinquish his House seat, however.
“I’ll leave that up to others, but he should drop himself out of this race,” said Schumer, who backs Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) over Grayson in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary.
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), who also backs Murphy, echoed Schumer’s comments about Grayson’s departure.
“Grayson is a seriously flawed candidate,” she said. “The stakes are high. Democrats must win in Florida. He should take a deep breath and reevaluate staying in the race.”
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the group should boot Grayson from its ranks.
“Alan Grayson gives progressives a bad name and he’s an embarrassment,” he said. “Having served with him for four years, it has been like watching a dumpster fire that would not stop burning.
“His political style is over-the-top and provocative,” added Huffman, who is trying to collect votes from the caucus to oust Grayson. “It extends to things like personal grudges in his votes, erratic behavior and his efforts to hijack the progressive caucus.”
Reports emerged Tuesday that Grayson’s ex-wife is accusing him of abusing her repeatedly over the last two decades.
Lolita Grayson gave Politico police and medical records alleging Alan Grayson hit the back of her head with a book and threatened her life. No charges were ever filed against him.
Mark NeJame, Alan Grayson’s attorney, on Wednesday rejected Lolita Grayson’s accusations against the congressman.
“Lolita is a disturbed woman,” he said. “She has made one false allegation after another. Her own daughter refutes her.”
NeJame told Politico that Alan Grayson’s oldest child is defending her father from her mother’s version of events.