COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina state lawmaker accused of beating his wife bloody resigned rather than be expelled from the Statehouse.
But Rep. Chris Corley still faces a felony aggravated domestic violence charge that could put him in prison for up to 20 years.
Corley, a Republican best known for his defense of the Confederate flag, was easily re-elected with no opposition to a second term in November. But his troubles at home became public record through a desperate 911 call the day after Christmas.
"Please stop" can be heard repeatedly in the recording released by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. "Just stop daddy. Just stop. ... Daddy, why are you doing this?" their children say.
He was initially charged with first-degree domestic violence, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and pointing a firearm. The grand jury returned a more serious charge of "domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature," punishable by up to 20 years. The gun charge is punishable by five years.
Prosecutors said in court that Corley threw his wife on their bed and began hitting her in the head, once even biting her nose. Corley took away his wife's cellphone so she couldn't call for help, but she managed to make the 911 call on her Apple Watch, assistant attorney general Kinli Abee said. The attack ended with Corley pointing a gun at his wife and then going to a bathroom.
In his Christmas card to House Republicans months later, he told his colleagues they lacked morals for voting to take down the flag, and suggested they "ask for forgiveness of all your sins such as betrayal."
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017...bexchange&_r=0
