Maine Representative Accuses Colleague of Stalking, Harassment

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Last night, the Bangor Daily News posted a rather stunning story [2], one that seems certain to be shared across the country today on both political blogs and sites showcasing "news of the weird." The piece, which has been joined by articles [3] in the MaineToday papers this morning, reveals that Belfast State Representative Erin Herbig filed for and has received a temporary protection from abuse order against Brunswick Representative Alexander Cornell du Houx. Both are Democrats.

In court documents, Herbig alleges that Cornell du Houx engaged in a troubling series of behaviors following the end of their romantic relationship. These include entering her apartment without her permission, breaking into her phone and computer, stalking and harassing her at the Capitol and legislative events and warning that he would "use his military training tactics" to get her to drop her complaints.

Herbig claims that Cornell du Houx also threatened to commit suicide and to make public "disturbing and frightening" photos and videos that he had taken of her while she was sleeping.

Keeping in mind that the court documents only reveal one side of the story, if even a fraction of what Herbig alleges is accurate it paints an alarming picture of Cornell du Houx. The recent Bowdoin graduate and former Marine had, along with Herbig, been considered to be a young and promising Democratic officeholder. In a brief statement emailed to the Bangor Daily News, Cornell Du Houx denied the allegations.

Cornell du Houx’s district leans well to the left, but that doesn’t mean he's out of the woods for the 2012 election. In 2010, he won a narrow race with 37% of the vote over Green Independent Frederick Horch (who came in second) and Republican Jonathan Crimmins. Another Green, David Frans, has filed for the ballot this year. That race saw one of the few TV ads [4] for a State House election, featuring an endorsement of Cornell du Houx by former Governor Angus King.

Herbig won a wide victory in 2010 in what had previously been a Republican-held district. Her legislative biography still lists her as being married to a Josh Povec, but according to the Press Herald they were recently divorced.