A Mississippi representative who voted to restrict abortion access was arrested for domestic violence

Anna Sheffer
Updated
Mississippi state Representative Douglas McLeod was recently arrested for punching his wife because she didn't undress quickly enough. Read more here.

Even today, in 2019, violent misogyny is far too widespread in the U.S., and these attitudes can lead to direct harm against women. Recently, Mississippi State Representative Douglas McLeod was arrested for domestic violence.

According to The Sun Herald, a Biloxi-based newspaper, police arrested McLeod on May 18th after receiving a call about a domestic disturbance. When they arrived, the Republican representative was intoxicated and had apparently punched his wife in the face. The paper notes that in a report filed with the George County Sheriff’s Department, deputies noticed blood on the floor and on McLeod’s wife’s face. The politician allegedly punched her because he felt she was undressing for sex too slowly.

McLeod’s wife reportedly told the police that her husband “just snapped” and that this is common when he drinks alcohol. McLeod is currently free on bail.

The Associated Press reports that state House Speaker Philip Gunn, also a Republican, has called for McLeod to resign in the wake of the arrest.

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Other Mississippi politicians have echoed this call, including Lucien Smith, chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party.

According to CBS News, McLeod has been a state representative since 2012. Earlier this year, he co-sponsored a so-called “heartbeat” abortion bill, which would ban the procedure at about six weeks into a pregnancy. Before that, he voted on several different bills to restrict abortion. He also voted in favor of a bill that would have enabled individuals to file a “wrongful death” lawsuit on behalf of fetuses.

Domestic violence should not be tolerated—especially not from elected officials. We stand with McLeod’s wife and all survivors of domestic violence.