Despite urging from the governor and some colleagues, a Louisiana state senator arrested twice on domestic violence charges spurned calls for his resignation today from the Louisiana Legislature.
The Associated Press reports Sen. Troy Brown, a Democrat from Geismar, issued a statement saying he has “made mistakes for which I am deeply sorry,” but adds the arrests are “personal issues” and won’t keep him from doing his legislative work.
The senator says he is receiving anger management counseling.
“There is absolutely no justification for anyone to climb up on a moral soap box and pretend that my personal life might keep me from boldly opposing a bad bill or defending a good one,” Brown says.
Earlier this week, Gov. John Bel Edwards said he doesn’t believe Brown can continue to effectively serve his constituents and he “would welcome” Brown’s resignation. Other Democratic lawmakers have followed suit, issuing similar statements suggesting Brown should step down.
Brown has been suspended from all his Senate committee assignments by Republican Senate President John Alario after a July arrest on a charge of misdemeanor domestic abuse battery. Police say Brown bit his wife on the arm.
A hearing to consider removing the protective order barring the senator from direct contact with his wife was postponed today because of flooding in south Louisiana, and a new date hasn’t been set, according to Brown’s statement.
It was Brown’s second arrest on domestic violence charges in eight months. The first came after police said he punched a woman in a New Orleans hotel in November.
