Albany Paper: Wife Claimed Congressman Was 'Knocking Her Around'

By: E&P Staff The Albany Times Union, based on a document it recent last week, reports today that the wife of U.S. Rep. John Sweeney called police last December to complain her husband was "knocking her around'' during a late-night argument at the couple's home. The paper had been looking into the alleged incident for months.

Sweeney is now in a tough fight for re-election with the vote just days off.

"The emergency call to a police dispatcher triggered a visit to the couple's residence by a state trooper from Clifton Park, who filed a domestic incident report after noting that the congressman had scratches on his face, the document states," the paper relates. "No criminal charges were filed.

"Gaia M. Sweeney, 36, told a trooper that her husband had grabbed her by the neck and was pushing her around the house, according to the document."

Sweeney campaign aide Maureen Donovan issued a statement late Tuesday labeling the document ``a piece of campaign propaganda.'' Sweeney has refused for months to discuss the allegations.

The Times Union said it "confirmed several months ago, through multiple law enforcement sources, that State Police had responded to the Sweeney residence in early December to investigate a domestic dispute. The sources confirmed that Sweeney had scratches on his face when a trooper arrived, but they provided no additional information about the incident.

"In the past 10 months, at least three news organizations, including the Times Union, have filed formal requests seeking disclosure of police records about the incident. State Police denied those requests and, according to agency sources, ordered that all inquiries about the matter be directed to headquarters, where officials have declined comment.

"Early Tuesday, copies of the document obtained by this newspaper were provided to State Police headquarters and to Sweeney's offices in Washington, D.C., and Clifton Park....

"Sweeney has declined repeated requests to discuss the incident."