NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais has reached the finish line of his re-election bid before potentially damaging trial transcripts from his 2001 divorce were made public.
The congressman's attorney blocked the release until a transcript was complete, and Democratic Party officials said the court reporter couldn't finish the work in time for voters to evaluate the records before the polls would close Tuesday evening.
The volatile divorce became a factor in the race when documents revealed that DesJarlais, a physician, had an affair with a patient and urged her to get an abortion.
DesJarlais, whose campaign platform opposes abortion, was challenged by Democratic state Sen. Eric Stewart in the only tightly contested race for nine House incumbents seeking re-election in Tennessee this year.