First, my campaign and I would like to thank all our supporters. Truly, it continues to be my honor to listen to and work with each and every one of you. It has come to my attention that some of my future constituents are unfamiliar with some familial issues that have come to light, and I would like to take this opportunity to allow you to hear about it from me.

It is true that members of my family are facing some serious legal issues from an event that took place in 2018. In submitting to what has been a long process through the court system, it is unfortunate that these issues have yet to be handled this year, the same year I happen to be running for Congress. My mother and sister are facing charges of reckless homicide in the tragic passing of a young woman who was in my family’s care. This information has been public knowledge with which I have always been forthright whenever the topic has come up and, at times when appropriate, shared with many of my supporters. I am making this statement as the trial nears to ensure that none of my supporters feel blindsided if they are not yet aware of the situation.

While I am not permitted to discuss details in this open legal matter, and I would never do anything to politically influence the case, I want you to know that I am standing by my family and believe wholeheartedly in their innocence. I firmly believe that our justice system will bear that out. The United States justice system, with all of its flaws, is still the greatest justice system the world has ever known. Here, we believe in the innocence of the accused – that they are innocent unless proven guilty. We believe that the accused must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt to have committed a crime. Here, we believe that the system looks blindly for the truth, and the truth concerning my family is that they are innocent. With the accusations levied against my family, it has been suggested by a select few that I should not run until this matter had passed. I respectfully disagree with that sentiment. I have not been accused of any questionable actions, and in this great country, accusations against one’s family members are indeed not an indictment on an individual. This race is vitally important to the people of this district, and I will not drop out!

I want to encourage each one of you that these issues, these concerns, do not distract me from my mission to win this race. The resolve that drives my candidacy has always centered around representing you, the people of the 2nd Congressional District. My family has been blessed by the stories that I have shared with them of my time on the campaign trail. They believe in me just as much as I believe in their innocence.

I thank each and every one of you for your continued support in my candidacy. I also thank each one of you for your personal support for me and my family. Your kind thoughts, words, and prayers for me and my family are appreciated more than you can possibly know. Thank you!

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