Scott DesJarlais Keeps Hometown Support After Patient Affair, Abortion Scandal

Tea Party Republican Keeps Key Support After Abortion Scandal
In this May 3, 2012, photo, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, right, speaks with Gov. Bill Haslam at a groundbreaking event at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The freshman Republican raised $28,310 in the first reporting period since a transcript emerged of DesJarlais urging a woman to seek an abortion more than 12 years ago. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)
In this May 3, 2012, photo, U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, right, speaks with Gov. Bill Haslam at a groundbreaking event at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The freshman Republican raised $28,310 in the first reporting period since a transcript emerged of DesJarlais urging a woman to seek an abortion more than 12 years ago. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

Doug Crisp, speaking outside the evangelical Grace Baptist Church in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, said he plans to support Representative Scott DesJarlais, a freshman, pro-life physician and anti-tax Tea Party-backed Republican.

Crisp said his support isn’t surprising even though DesJarlais, in a recorded phone conversation more than a decade ago, tried to persuade a patient with whom he’s admitted having an affair to get an abortion.

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