Tennessee Republican Brad Staats, a losing congressional candidate earlier this month, was arrested early Sunday morning on a domestic assault charge after police responded to a call from his wife claiming that he slapped her.
According to a report in the Nashville City Paper on the police affidavit, Staats denied his wife Bethany's account of the incident, but said that "he pushed his wife ... down onto a bed then left the location.”
The affidavit, also notes, however, that "Ms. Staats did have a red mark on her left cheek consistent with her statement." The Tennessean got a hold of Staats on Monday, who told the outlet that the situation was “not what it appears to be.”
Staats ran in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District on a "family matters" platform that stressed traditional values and Second Amendment rights. He drew national attention in October after posting a photo of his handgun to his Facebook page, alongside a message "welcoming" President Barack Obama to Tennessee. He denied that it was meant as a threat.
Though Staats posted a sizable loss to Democratic incumbent Rep. Jim Cooper -- by a margin of about 85,000 votes, or more than 30 percent of the total vote -- his campaign website is still active. Here's an image from the front page.
Raw Story points out that Staats thanked his wife during his concession speech.
After being booked on a misdemeanor domestic assault charge, Staats posted a $5,000 bond and was released from Davidson County Jail, according to the City Paper. His trial date is set for Feb. 7 of 2013.
Staats is just the latest in a long line of political hypocrites to be caught not practicing what they preach. For more examples, click through the slideshow below: