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Support Joe Collins for Congress!Senate candidate Sean Parnell has ended his quest to become Pennsylvania's next U.S. senator.
Parnell, who won the endorsement of Donald Trump, faced allegations of abuse from his estranged wife. Though they concerned many Republicans, Parnell remained in the race.
Until Monday evening that is, when a judge awarded Parnell's wife sole legal custody of the couple's three children.
Before making the announcement, Parnell called Trump.
POLITICO reports:
“I strongly disagree with the ruling today and I'm devastated by the decision,” Parnell said in a statement. “I plan on asking the court to reconsider this decision. In the order, two of the leading factors that weighed heavily in the judge's decision revolved around me being a leading Senate candidate. There is nothing more important to me than my children, and while I plan to ask the court to reconsider, I can't continue with a Senate campaign. My focus right now is 100 percent on my children, and I want them to know I do not have any other priorities and will never stop fighting for them.”
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In a ruling made public Monday, a judge determined Laurie Snell, the children's mother, would have sole legal custody, while Parnell's schedule with them would be limited to three weekends a month, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. That would have made it difficult for Parnell to continue a campaign.
Indeed, Parnell's campaign has privately said for weeks that the embattled Senate candidate's future in the race would come down to the judge's decision.
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If he kept custody of his three children, Parnell could have won in Pennsylvania, advisers said. Losing his kids, though, spelled the end of the campaign.
Republicans view Pennsylvania as a must win state if they are to regain control of the Senate.
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