Kentucky Republican state Rep. Robert Goforth was indicted Friday for allegedly strangling a woman her with an ethernet cable, almost stopping her from breathing, and threatening to “hog-tie” her.
Goforth, who was once a candidate for governor, was indicted by a grand jury in Laurel County, Kentucky on one count of first-degree strangulation and one count of assault in the fourth degree, according to The Washington Post. In April, Goforth reportedly got in a fight with the woman whose three young children were still inside the home, leaving her with bruises on her leg and marks on her neck and arms, according to the Corbin Times-Tribune.
The fight was reportedly over her unlocking her phone, to which Goforth then allegedly grabbed an ethernet cable and began strangling her to the point where she “had difficulty breathing and thought she was going to pass out,” the police report said. The woman then showed up at the 911 dispatch center explaining what had allegedly happened to her.
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The only way she was able to leave the house was reportedly after she promised Goforth she would unlock her phone for him. Goforth reportedly did not seem to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol when he was arrested, The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said. (RELATED: Democratic Kansas House Candidate Admits To Abusing Ex-Girlfriend — Says ‘Medicaid For All’ Could Have Stopped Him)
Goforth has yet to resign from his seat in the state House, despite the indictment. He also reportedly faced sexual allegations during his last campaign, according to The Post. He was first elected to serve in Kentucky’s 89th House district in 2018. (RELATED: Democratic Mayoral Candidate Sabrina Belcher Faked Her Own Kidnapping To Win Votes, Police Say)
Goforth’s Democratic challenger Mike VanWinkle and other Kentucky Democrats have called for him to drop out of the race. “This district has suffered enough embarrassment and bad press over this affair,” VanWinkle said in a Facebook post Friday. “Mr. Goforth needs to remain focused on his legal case, Domestic Violence issues, and marriage.”