LITTLE ROCK - Former U.S. Attorney and candidate for the U.S. Senate Conner Eldridge today criticized Sen. Boozman for visiting a domestic violence shelter while Boozman's record shows he has voted to strip funding from domestic violence shelters. Last week, Sen. Boozman toured Serenity Inc. -- a domestic abuse shelter in Mountain Home, AR -- despite voting against the Violence Against Women Act in 2013, which directly provides protections and assistance programs to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Eldridge criticized his opponent, Sen. Boozman, for his election-year hyopcrisy regarding women's issues. Eldridge promised to be a strong advocate for women in the U.S. Senate -- emphasizing his support for the Violence Against Women Act, Equal Pay, and Paid Family Leave.
Statement from Conner Eldridge:
"Stopping domestic violence is an issue I am very passionate about. As a prosecutor I saw some horrible abuse cases, and I understand we need to be doing everything we can to protect those in these abusive situations. Sen. Boozman does not get a pass on his awful record of voting against women's interests. I saw that he toured a domestic abuse shelter in Mountain Home last week. While I'm glad he finally sees the importance of this issue after I have repeatedly criticized his record, it's too little, too late. In 2013, he voted against providing assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and that is inexcusable. This is election-year hypocrisy at its finest and someone needs to call him out on it.
"In this day and age, politicians try to flood the airwaves during an election year to weave a story. We need to call them out on the facts and inform the people of their real records. Sen. Boozman's tour of a domestic abuse shelter appears to be a political play during an election season to cover up his record of voting directly against assistance for shelters and women who need it. We must demand more. I am a supporter of the Violence Against Women Act and Equal Pay, and I will be a fierce fighter for women in the U.S. Senate."