Grayson Firmly Denies Shoving His Wife

Florida Democratic congressman Alan Grayson has been accused by his wife of pushing her to the ground and injuring her in a domestic dispute over the weekend. Lolita Grayson, who filed for a divorce in January, has also alleged that her husband “from time to time” in the past battered her and her children, and that he has a “history of physical violence” toward her. Representative Grayson has accused his wife of fabricating the allegations, saying that she attacked him: From the Orlando Sentinel report:

In a statement, Alan Grayson’s press secretary, Lauren Doney, wrote that the allegations “are absolutely false, completely unfounded, and clearly designed to vilify and harm Congressman Grayson.”

“Congressman Grayson firmly denies Ms. Grayson’s frivolous accusations,” the statement said. . . .

A heavily redacted Sheriff’s Office document released Tuesday identified Lolita Grayson as the victim in the incident and listed the offense under investigation as domestic-violence battery.

Grayson was not arrested in the incident and is not currently facing any criminal charges.

According to the petition, Lolita Grayson was preparing to take the couple’s two youngest children to a play date when Alan Grayson “showed up, unannounced” and asked to speak with her inside.

After she refused, retrieved his mail and asked him to leave, Alan Grayson “then deliberately and with force pushed [Lolita Grayson] very hard against the front door, causing [her] to fall to the ground as a result,” the petition states.

She told her husband not to touch her, then pushed him in the face and kneed him in the stomach “in order to protect and defend herself” before calling 911, her petition says.

As she was talking to the operator, Alan Grayson told his wife, in the presence of their children, that she “would receive nothing” in their divorce and would be left “in the gutter,” the petition states.

Photos filed by Lolita Grayson’s attorneys with the petition show large bruises to her left leg and left shoulder.

 A judge granted a temporary injunction barring Grayson from contact with his wife.

In 2012, Grayson highlighted an accusation of abuse made by the ex-wife of Todd Long, his opponent in the race to represent Florida’s Ninth District. Long’s wife had said in a deposition during 2011 divorce proceedings that she felt her husband had been “very abusive and manipulative.”

In a Facebook post, Grayson invited Florida voters to “just imagine what Todd Long did” (emphasis in the original):

The local news report on Long’s abusive misconduct comes out of sworn testimony. In open court, Long’s wife, Ninette, said it directly to Long’s face: “You were very abusive and manipulative.” Long testified right after Ninette, and he didn’t even endeavor to contradict her testimony. 

Todd Long has taken the Republicans’ war on women to its logical conclusion.  With Long, it’s not a metaphor. It’s the real thing.

Grayson is seeking reelection this year.