State Democrats say court transcripts "confirm that Republican Congressman Scott DesJarlais, a doctor, engaged in multiple sexual relationships and drug use with patients, a clear violation of his professional code of ethics and Tennessee law."
State Democrats, just before the election, went to court in Chattanooga to seek a transcript of a DesJarlais divorce 14 years ago in Marion County. The transcript was released.
Rep. DesJarlais won by a comfortable margin over state Senator Eric Stewart.
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester said, "DesJarlais’ testimony, given under oath, verifies a long record of unethical and irresponsible behavior and also directly contradicts statements he has made recently to his supporters, colleagues and media outlets covering his re-election bid for U.S. Congress.
“Congressman Scott DesJarlais’ lies have come home to roost. Just like he abused his power as a doctor and violated the trust of his patients, he has betrayed those who have defended him by deceiving them about his affairs with patients. The power brokers in the Republican Party can no longer hide behind DesJarlais’ shameful and selfish lies. Reality is staring them in the face. It’s time they addressed these disgusting facts and held him accountable for his continued pattern of lies, deception and hypocrisy.
"He lied to us about his record when he ran for office the first time and he lied to Tennesseans again during his second campaign. DesJarlais has acted irresponsibly, his actions are contemptible and his tangled web of deceit is sickening. Scott DesJarlais should be barred from practicing medicine, and he should give up his seat in Congress to make way for someone worthy of the trust that Tennesseans instill in their elected officials.”
Democrats released parts of the divorce transcript:
Scott Eugene Desjarlais - Cross by Mr. Austin 488
12 Q [PATIENT NAME REDACTED BY TNDP]. Now, you and [PATIENT NAME]
13 carried on for about from January of 2000 to April of 2000,
14 did you not?
15 A Four months.
16 Q According to you?
17 A Yes.
18 Q And then you kept calling her in June of 2000
19 after you and Susan had been reconciled, didn't you?
20 A I called her a couple of times.
21 Q Phone records indicate that?
22 A Yes.
23 Q And she was an employee of the hospital?
24 A No.
25 Q She was a patient of yours?
Scott Eugene Desjarlais - Cross by Mr. Austin 489
1 A Yes.
2 Q And you wrote her prescriptions and you have told
3 us about your concern about these prescriptions, but you
4 wrote her prescriptions, did you not, Doctor, give her
5 medicine, drugs?
6 A I wrote patients prescriptions, yes.
7 Q I'm talking about [PATIENT NAME], the lady you
8 are sleeping with.
9 A Yes, she is a patient and I wrote her
10 prescriptions.
11 Q Okay. So we have got a patient that you are
12 sleeping with that you are writing prescriptions to?
13 A Yes.