NY-20: JOHN SWEENEY 2005 POLICE REPORT IN ALBANY PAPER - CHOKED WIFE

[Dems Will Win]

This will likely give the seat to Gillibrand and maybe the Congress to the Democrats, folks. This is going to be the top story in the Albany Times Union tomorrow. They've been working on this story for 10 months.

Congressman's wife called police

Sweeney's wife, Gaia, placed the emergency call to a police dispatcher in Saratoga County at 12:55 a.m. on Dec. 2, according to the document.

"Female caller stating her husband is knocking her around the house," a dispatcher wrote. "Then she stated 'Here it comes, are you ready?' and disconnected the call. Upon call-back, the husband stated no problem ... asked the wife if she wanted to talk. Wife (caller) then got on the phone and stated that she's fine and that she's drunk. Caller sounded intoxicated. She advised that she was endangered for a moment, but everything is fine."

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=530664&category=&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=10/31/2006

http://www.timesunion.com/capitol/content/incident1031.pdf

The Daily News has it too!

Sweeney's Alleged Domestic Abuse
BY JOE MAHONEY
and BEN SMITH
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

POWERFUL UPSTATE Rep. John Sweeney got into an early-morning fracas with his wife that became so frightening she called 911 for help, the Daily News has learned.

Gayle (Gaia) Sweeney told the 911 dispatcher that her husband was “knocking her around the house,” according to a December 2005 state police report obtained by The News.

After Gayle Sweeney said, “Here it comes, are you ready?” the call was disconnected.

She later told a state trooper who came to their suburban Albany residence that she and her husband had a “verbal argument that turned a little physical by her being grabbed by the neck and pushed around the house,” according to the report.

...

Rep. Sweeney’s spokeswoman Maureen Donovan said the police report reviewed by The News was “unauthentic, false and concocted” by his opposition. The Republican is fighting off a heated challenge from Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.

“This barely legible document that is currently being circulated is a piece of campaign propaganda in the continued smear campaign against Congressman John Sweeney and his family,” Donovan said in a statement.

When asked directly whether state police responded to a 911 call placed by his wife on Dec. 2, 2005, Sweeney’s aides had no immediate comment.

...

The revelation of the alleged assault by Sweeney, a well-liked, hard-partying Albany institution since he served as executive director of the New York State Republican Party in the 1990s, comes just days before Gillibrand will pose the stiffest challenge of his political career.

Sweeney’s personal transgressions have dogged his political career, including two arrests in his 20s, one for driving drunk. A 2001 car accident drew renewed scrutiny, and he was in the headlines again this year when a college student described Sweeney turning up “openly intoxicated at a fraternity party.”

The Dec. 2 incident has been rumored in Albany political circles since soon after it happened. A reporter from an Albany television station filed a Freedom of Information Law request with the state police just days after the 911 call, requesting information about 911 calls from Sweeney’s home.

The state police denied the request, contending that the information is a private matter, drawing criticism from the state’s Committee on Open Government.

...

http://blogs.nydailynews.com/dailypolitics/archives/2006/10/sweeneys_report.php

[Erika]

1. And this guy had the stupidity to run for office

Is choking one's wife acceptable to the GOP?

[Nite Owl]

4. He never had a viable

candidate to oppose him until Kirsten Gillibrand. She's a fighter and she will fight for us. I'm so tickled this came out, it's been rumored for a while. He's an arrogant prick.

[KingFlorez]

2. Another story

It seems like there is a story about a Republican doing something terrible every day.

[Nite Owl]

3. And I suppose the police dept

helped Kirsten write the report?

Rep. Sweeney’s spokeswoman Maureen Donovan said the police report reviewed by The News was “unauthentic, false and concocted” by his opposition.

He has to do more than say that to try and make this one go away. This happened two weeks after his son pleaded guilty to the beating of another young man.
http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/your_news/saratoga/default.asp?ArID=126851

This is information that people must know before they vote for this gangster again. I'm glad it came out and hope it gets a lot of press.

[Cooley Hurd]

5. I'll bet the Gillibrand campaign knew about this, too...

...since she publicly asked him to come clean about "brushes with the law."

K&R!:kick:

[Nite Owl]

6. K&R

[Chomskyite]

7. He's done.

And it's as it should be. You beat your wife . . . you shouldn't be in Congress. It's a pity that even has to be said.

[tblue]

8. We demand an apology!

[oustemnow]

9. Aw, man, and the Times-Union is reporting this?

Way to go, T-U?

I don't get to read the Times-Union very often, but can any locals tell me, is Fred LeBrun still fighting the good fight, or has he faded into retirement?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. i'll give you that 5th vote but you failed to say he was REPUBLICAN!...

I'll fix it for you Representative John E. Sweeney (R - NY). is a

REPUBLICAN!

damn wife beating bastard deserves to have his ass kicked!

[gully]

13. He was just trying to keep that "feminist bitch" in line.

:sarcasm:

[Grebrook]

11. Another guaranteed Democratic pick up, Sweeney was already on the ropes

[wiley]

12. Sweeney is NOT a good man.

He should be exposed for what he is.

[Cooley Hurd]

14. Kick for John "Brooks Brothers Riot" Sweeney...

http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/11/28/miami/

<snip>
The incident -- the ugliest single set piece of the Election 2000 epic and possibly the most decisive one -- was set in motion by one imported GOP operative: Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., who from an office in that same county building has led the Miami fight against the recount.
</snip>

[Cooley Hurd]

15. .

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

16. kick

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. Repuke family values: Choke your wife, beat your wife, spit on your wife,

drag your sister by the hair UP the stairs, Hang your sister over the Grand Canyon railing, try to have sex with 16 year olds who work for Congress, cheat on your wife and choke your mistress, and attempt to rape your nanny. Sheesh. Which party is MORALLY CORRUPT?

[Nite Owl]

18. Kick!