Maine Democrat Jackson acknowledges punching man in 1988; he and partner dismiss pushing allegation

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Today's Top Stories - August 13, 2026

Today's Top Stories - August 13, 2026

Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson on Thursday acknowledged punching a man as a teenager in 1988, but he and longtime partner Lana Pelletier disputed that he had pushed her after the Bangor Daily News obtained and reported on a police report that detailed the nearly 40-year-old allegations.

“Nearly forty years ago, when I was 19 years old, I got into a fight with another man. I took responsibility for it then, and I take responsibility for it now,” Jackson said in a statement through his campaign. 

“But let me be clear: I have never been violent with my partner Lana, or any other woman,” he continued. “This happened nearly four decades ago, and I assure Mainers this incident in no way reflects the man I am today or the life I’ve led in the years since.” 

Pelletier, who is not married to Jackson but has two children with him, also disputed the idea that her longtime partner had physically pushed her or that she wanted to get cease harassment papers. 

“I do not remember making the statements attributed to me........

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