CONCORD – House Majority Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) released the following statement relative to reports that House Democratic Leader Steve Shurtleff (D-Concord) has gone back on his earlier disavowing of accused domestic abuser Sen. Jeff Woodburn, and believes calls for Woodburn to resign are a “moot point”.
Rep. Hinch said, “There is no middle ground on accusations of domestic abuse. These are very serious and substantiated charges against Sen. Woodburn. Given the nature of the charges and the legal proceedings requiring his full attention, it’s clear that Sen. Woodburn is not fit for public office. The constituents of his district deserve better.” Hinch continued, “Now we have the leader of the Democratic Caucus saying that somehow that we should all give him a free pass until after the election. I’m shocked that Rep. Shurtleff and other Democrat leaders are standing with and enabling an accused abuser and not with the victim in this situation. This is not the time to straddle the fence and shows poor leadership by the minority leader.”