I was so involved today with Conyer’s historic hearing in DC that this almost slipped by me. This is from The Scranton Times which is in Sherwood’s district.

A woman who alleges U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood repeatedly beat her during a five-year “close romantic and intimate personal relationship” sued him in a Washington D.C. court Wednesday, seeking $5.5 million in damages.

The suit by Cynthia M. Ore, 29, of Rockville, Md., alleges the 64-year-old Republican from Tunkhannock Township repeatedly struck her in the face, neck, chest and back, “violently yanking” her hair and repeatedly tried to choke or strangle her. Afterward he would tell her he would never beat her again, then beg her not to leave him, according to the suit filed in Superior Court in the District of Columbia

Locally, I noticed that very little hit the press when the original story broke of Sherwood’s alleged abusive relationship with Ms. Ore. Here’s the Times’ explanation:

Why The Times Now Is Reporting Sherwood Story

When a former political opponent first circulated word that police had responded to a call to the apartment of U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood in Washington, D.C., from a woman claiming he had tried to strangle her, The Scranton Times and The Tribune declined to publish a story.

Managing Editor Lawrence K. Beaupre later wrote that over the seven months since the incident had occurred, the woman and police had not filed criminal charges, and the woman did not file civil charges. The woman’s story also was discounted by police, who said she did not appear to be of sound mind.

Mr. Beaupre noted that although the circumstances were tawdry, the newspaper believed that, in the absence of criminal or civil charges, this was a private matter that had not yet been connected to Mr. Sherwood’s public responsibilities.

Mr. Beaupre noted that if the incident were to enter the public realm through criminal or civil charges, or became an issue in a political campaign, the newspaper would report the story in full.

Heaven forbid they should be let themselves be political pawns. Now more details are coming out:

In her complaint she says they lived together for most of the five years in Apartment 215 at 110 D St., where Mr. Sherwood lives while in the capital. He also promised to marry her and start a family, Ms. Ore said in her complaint.

Mr. Sherwood is married and has three daughters.

Nice. Roumor has it that Sherwood, after leaving the Congress, will be going through that revolving K Street door to a very lucrative position as a lobbiest for big Pharma. Well, looks like he has the temperment for it.  He can’t be gone soon enough for me.