IL-GOV

Scott Lee Cohen Files As Independent In IL-GOV Race

Jillian Rayfield | June 22, 2010, 12:49PM

Illinois Governor candidate Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Scott Lee Cohen, a Chicago pawnbroker who dropped out of Illinois' race for lieutenant governor earlier this year after past allegations of domestic violence came to light, is now running for governor. He filed petitions yesterday to run as an independent.

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Scott Lee Cohen

Scott Lee Cohen: Democrats Forced Me Out Because Of My Integrity

Rachel Slajda | May 5, 2010, 5:44PM

IL candidate for Lt. Gov. Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Scott Lee Cohen, the Chicago pawnbroker who dropped out of the Illinois lieutenant governor race only to announce this week that he's running for governor, said on MSNBC today that Democrats had forced him out of the race because he "stood for honesty and integrity."

"I was forced out by the Democratic Party," Cohen said today on MSNBC. "Because I wasn't the good ol' boy, I wasn't a career politician. I was a successful small business owner. I stood for honesty and integrity, something that Illinois politics doesn't know."

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IL-GOV

Cohen Announces IL Gov Candidacy After Quitting Lt. Gov Race Over Abuse Charges

Rachel Slajda | May 3, 2010, 12:28PM

IL candidate for Lt. Gov. Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Scott Lee Cohen, a pawnbroker who dropped out of the Illinois lieutenant governor race in February over allegations of domestic abuse and other scandals, announced today that he instead will run for governor as an independent.

The mostly unknown Cohen had won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor earlier this year, but his campaign was quickly thwarted by reports that he had been charged with domestic abuse in 2005 for allegedly holding a knife to his girlfriend's throat and slamming her head into a wall. He has also admitted to steroid abuse and his ex-wife, in divorce proceedings, claimed he had tried to sexually assault her.

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IL-GOV

Cohen Drops Out Of IL Race In Tearful Super Bowl Announcement

Rachel Slajda | February 8, 2010, 8:56AM

IL candidate for Lt. Gov. Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Scott Lee Cohen, the Democratic candidate for Illinois lieutenant governor, announced last night that he is leaving the race over allegations of domestic violence and drug use.

Speaking to reporters at a Chicago bar during the Super Bowl, Cohen frequently choked up as he made the announcement.

"For the good of the people of the state of Illinois and for the Democratic Party, I will resign," he said. The Who's halftime performance can be heard in the background.

"With all my heart, I'm sorry," Cohen said.

Members of his family, seated around a table, also broke into tears.

Video after the jump.

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Scott Lee Cohen

Illinois Dems Quinn, Durbin, Giannoulias (And More): Cohen Should Withdraw

Eric Kleefeld | February 5, 2010, 6:18PM

Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL) and Scott Lee Cohen (D), candidate for Lt. Governor

More and more Democrats in Illinois have been calling upon Scott Lee Cohen, the Dem nominee for lieutenant governor, to drop out of the race in the wake of news coverage of past steroid use, allegations of domestic violence, and other scandals. Gov. Pat Quinn's own position has now become even firmer that Cohen should leave the race, his spokesperson tells TPM.

"The governor has made it very clear that he thinks it is best for the party, and more important for the state of Illinois, for Mr. Cohen to step aside," said Quinn spokesperson Elizabeth Austin.

Yesterday, Quinn strongly suggested that Cohen should withdraw from the race, but had also left some slight leeway for Cohen to explain his side of the story. Since then, further details had emerged from Cohen's divorce files, including alleged attempted sexual assault, repeated infidelity, and other damaging information. Cohen gave an interview last night on local television, which apparently did not help his case.

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Scott Lee Cohen

Durbin: Cohen Should Quit As Illinois Lt. Gov. Candidate

Eric Kleefeld | February 5, 2010, 2:25PM

Scott Lee Cohen, IL Candidate for Lt. Gov and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) has called upon Scott Lee Cohen, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in his home state of Illinois, to withdraw from the race.

Cohen has faced controversy since he narrowly won a six-way primary on Tuesday, over allegations involving alleged attempted sexual assault of his then-wife, past domestic violence against a girlfriend, steroid use, and being behind on child support payments. Cohen has admitted to steroid use. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who is now the party's nominee for U.S. Senate, has already called for Cohen to drop out.

"He really should spare himself, and his friends and family what he's about to go through," Durbin said in an interview with WBBM-AM radio, the local CBS affiliate. "I'm afraid the disclosures so far really disqualify him."

Scott Lee Cohen

Former Sen. Adlai Stevenson III: If Cohen Were My Running Mate, I Would Go Independent

Eric Kleefeld | February 5, 2010, 2:02PM

Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL), Former Sen. Aldai Stevenson III (D-IL), and IL Lt. Gov. candidate Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Former Sen. Adlai Stevenson III (D-IL), who ran for governor as an independent in 1986 after he was saddled with an unacceptable running mate for lieutenant governor in the primaries, just told TPMDC that if he were in the situation that Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL) is today, with controversial candidate for lieutenant governor Scott Lee Cohen, he would do the same thing -- quit the Democratic ticket, and run as an independent.

"Well, you know I've been asked that over and over again, and I just don't want to be presumptuous by advising the governor what to do," said Stevenson, when asked if Quinn should run as an independent. "I'm saying what I did. I could not run in good conscience with someone unqualified as my running mate for lieutenant governor, so I resigned and ran as an independent."

When asked if he would personally run as an independent rather than run alongside Cohen, Stevenson answered: "Absolutely. No question about it."

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Scott Lee Cohen

Illinois Dem Senate Nominee Giannoulias Calls On Lt. Gov. Candidate Scott Lee Cohen To Withdraw

Eric Kleefeld | February 5, 2010, 10:41AM

IL-SEN candidate Alexi Giannoulias (D) and IL Lt. Gov. candidate Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Illinois state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate this year, has called upon Scott Lee Cohen, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, to withdraw from the race.

Cohen has faced controversy since he narrowly won a six-way primary on Tuesday, over allegations involving past domestic violence, steroid use and being behind on child support payments. Cohen has admitted to steroid use.

"These revelations are deeply disturbing and there is no place in society let alone public office for this type of behavior," Giannoulias said in a statement.

Scott Lee Cohen

Scott Lee Cohen: 'I Don't Believe That I'm An Embarrassment To The Ticket' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 5, 2010, 10:28AM

IL candidate for Lt. Gov. Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Scott Lee Cohen, the embattled Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Illinois, appeared for an interview Thursday on Chicago Tonight, seeking to answer questions about allegations of domestic violence, drug abuse and other damaging issues.

Cohen has faced significant controversy -- including a call from Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn to potentially quit the race -- since he narrowly won a six-way Democratic primary on Tuesday. In 2005, he was arrested for allegedly threatening his girlfriend at the time by putting a knife to her throat and throwing her against a wall. The case was dropped after the woman, who had previously been arrested for prostitution and later pleaded guilty, failed to show up to court. In addition, his wife said in his divorce case that he abused steroids and attempted to sexually assault her. Cohen has admitted to past steroid use.

"You know, all this happened at a rough time in my life, and you know, I understand it looks bad," said Cohen, who was accompanied in the interview by his ex-wife Debra York-Cohen. "And that's why I tried so hard to put it out, the day I announced I was running. I have answered every question that was asked me by the media, in a full, complete, and honest way. Again, I tried so hard to put this out the day I announced so it wouldn't come to this. Nobody wanted to listen."

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Scott Lee Cohen

Illinois Dem Lt. Gov. Nominee: 'I Have No Intention Of Stepping Down'

Eric Kleefeld | February 4, 2010, 6:23PM

IL candidate for Lt. Gov. Scott Lee Cohen (D)

Scott Lee Cohen, a businessman who won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Illinois in Tuesday's primary, is insisting that he will not drop out of the race. Cohen has come under fire for allegations of domestic violence, involving a 2005 arrest for allegedly holding a knife to a then-girlfriend's throat.

"I have no intention of stepping down or stepping aside," Cohen said in a statement. "When the facts come to light, after my ex-wife and ex-girlfriend speak, the people of Illinois can decide, and I will listen to them directly. I am asking my ex-wife and ex-girlfriend to come forward and to talk with the media.

"There are questions, and I will provide all answers honestly and openly. I only ask for time to do the interviews. 2005 was a difficult time in my life. I was going through a divorce, and I started running with a fast group. I was in a tumultuous relationship with the woman I was dating. We had a fight, but I never touched her. She called the police, however, she never came to court, and the charges were dismissed. I realized this relationship was not healthy, I ended it, and we parted amicably."

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Pat Quinn

Quinn: Lt. Gov. Candidate Cohen Should Consider Withdrawing

Eric Kleefeld | February 4, 2010, 3:13PM

Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL) and Scott Lee Cohen (D), candidate for Lt. Governor

Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL) has now declared that the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, businessman Scott Lee Cohen, should consider withdrawing from the race in the wake of publicity surrounding a 2005 arrest for domestic violence.

Cohen allegedly threatened his girlfriend at the time by putting a knife to her throat and throwing her against a wall. The case was dropped after the woman, who had previously been arrested for prostitution and later pleaded guilty, failed to show up to court.

"I do believe that the person who's had these matters brought up about himself should at least have a chance to talk about them to the public, but if his explanations are unsatisfactory, and so far they have been, then he has to do the appropriate thing," said Quinn. He added: "Our country and our state are bigger than ourselves. The Democratic Party is bigger than me or any other candidate. If there are matters that are raised about your conduct that disqualify you from running in a proper way for an election in the fall, then the only appropriate thing is to step aside. And I think that's what we're looking at here."

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