Womp Womp:
A judge has denied Sean Parnell’s request for an expansive gag order against his estranged wife and her attorney, though the judge did seal some parts of the ongoing custody fight that has roiled Parnell’s campaign for U.S. Senate.
Judge James Arner, overseeing the Butler County custody case, refused Parnell’s request for an order that would have barred his wife, Laurie, and her attorney from publicly discussing two temporary protection-from-abuse orders issued against Parnell in 2017 and 2018. In his order, the judge also declined to seal the custody case’s records and to bar Laurie Parnell from discussing the case, as Parnell sought.
But Arner did order both parents, who are seeking a divorce, to refrain from disclosing any information about the mental and physical health and treatment of their three children, as well as any information about psychological evaluations of the Parnells and their children filed as part of the dispute.
The judge also denied requests from The Inquirer and the Tribune-Review of Pittsburgh to intervene in the case. Lawyers for both news outlets argued that the custody hearings should remain open to the public; the Tribune-Review also sought to unseal some of the confidential documents in the case, which might have included the mental health evaluations.
In seeking the gag order covering the protection-from-abuse orders, Parnell, one of the leading Republican candidates in a critical Senate race, sought to silence his wife on a subject that has threatened to become a major campaign liability, fueled in part by continued attacks from one of his main rivals, Montgomery County real estate developer Jeff Bartos.
Bartos has called Parnell “unelectable” because of the PFA orders, while Parnell, a decorated former Army Ranger, has called Bartos a liar and called on him to drop out of the race.
Pennsylvania will be a top state this year and next year. Especially now that Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D. PA) is running for Governor. Speaking of which:
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has asked Commonwealth Court to declare illegal a subpoena by state Senate Republicans for access to voting and personal information of nine million state residents.
The motion seeks to quash the attempt by Republican senators Cris Dush of Jefferson County and Jake Corman of Centre County to first obtain the information, then turn it over to an unidentified third party.
The GOP-led Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee approved the subpoena last month as part of a "forensic audit" of Pennsylvania election results. Gov. Tom Wolf, Shapiro and other Democrats have criticized the move as an attempt to legitimize the "Big Lie" that former President Donald Trump was cheated out of winning the election.
"Pennsylvanians' fundamental rights are under attack," said Shapiro, who on Wednesday launched his gubernatorial candidacy.
"These senators are using their position of power to demand voters' personal information, all so that they may continue to lie about our elections. It is time for public officials to move past the big lie and to start reminding the public that our elections are accurate, fair, and secure."
We also have some big judicial races in Pennsylvania this year and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party is helping inform voters about these upcoming races. Received this e-mail today from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party:
Every race. Every Democratic candidate. All at your fingertips. Your personalized Democratic voting guide is here!
Enter your address at PADems.com/candidates to see every race and candidate on your ballot — from statewide judicial races to your child's school board!
Click here to get your voting guide.
Also, The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is launching a Latino Democrats GOTV event tonight. Received this e-mail just now from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party:
HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION
& GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY
A Virtual Event w/ Democratic Candidates
TONIGHT: Friday, Oct. 15th | 6 PM
RSVP NOW →
Hi — Hispanic Heritage Month is ending, and "get out the vote" season is heating up. Join our celebration to support Latino Democratic candidates from Erie to Philly, and Hazleton to Lebanon!
This event is free, virtual, and welcomes everyone. We'll be joined by author and activist Norman Bristol Colón, PA Representative Danilo Burgos, and an exciting field of Latino candidates on the ballot all across Pennsylvania this fall!
To access the event link, RSVP now at: https://mobilize.us/padems/event/421962.
See you there,
Caelan Hidalgo Schick
Latinx Outreach Director
PA Democratic Party
Click here to RSVP.
Democracy and Health are on the ballot this year (Pennsylvania Supreme Court Elections) and next year and we need to get ready to keep Pennsylvania Blue. Let’s help Shapiro give him an early momentum boost. Click below to donate and get involved with Shapiro and his fellow Pennsylvania Democrats campaigns and organizations:
Governor
Josh Shapiro for Governor
U.S. Senate
Conor Lamb
John Fetterman
Val Arkoosh
Malcolm Kenyatta
Pennsylvania Courts
Maria McLaughlin for Supreme Court
Timika Lane for Superior Court
David Spurgeon for Commonwealth Court
Lori Dumas for Commonwealth Court
Maraleen Shields for Court of Common Pleas Judge
Lt. Governor
Brian Sims for Lt. Governor
Mayor
Ed Gainey for Pittsburgh Mayor
District Attorney
Larry Krasner for Philadelphia District Attorney
Pennsylvania Organizations
Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee
Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Campaign Committee
Draw the Lines PA
Committee of Seventy
Congress:
Chris DeLuzio for Congress
Eugene DePasquale for Congress
Jerry Dickinson for Congress
Matt Cartwright
Susan Wild
Chrissy Houlahan
Madeleine Dean
Dwight Evans
Mike Doyle
Mary Gay Scanlon