In 1986, Sen. Brown was in the midst of a tense divorce with his then-wife of seven years, Larke Recchie. Records from the Franklin County Common Pleas Court in Ohio show that Recchie said in her divorce complaint that Senator Brown “has been guilty of gross neglect of duty and extreme cruelty.”

Recchie also sought a restraining order against Senator Brown to keep him from “doing bodily harm” to her. Recchie claimed to be “in fear for the safety and well-being of myself and our children due to [Brown’s] physical violence and abusive nature” and said Brown “intimidated, pushed, shoved and bullied” her on multiple occasions.

"The term “domestic violence” includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction." 

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence

 A judge granted a seven-count restraining order against Senator Brown. Recchie soon accused Senator Brown of violating the order and said he “pushed me up against the wall with his arms in order to pass and entered the house.”

According to a Columbus Dispatch article from 1989, Recchie again accused her ex-husband (Senator Brown) of violent behavior. This time, she said, Senator Brown pounded on her door so hard that he broke it and assaulted her new husband, Joseph Recchie. Both Recchies filed police reports at the time but did not end up pressing charges.

Senator Brown has denied the allegations repeatedly, saying that he’s “never hurt” his ex-wife. #MeToo Ohio, however, says the allegations against Sen. Brown show a contradiction with his claim that he is a champion for women.

According to #MeToo Ohio, "the time has come for Sen. Brown to come clean about the alleged abuse and resign from his Senate seat. Calling out Senator Brown’s alleged history of domestic abuse and demanding he resign from his U.S. Senate seat."

“These court records show sworn evidence that Brown’s ex-wife accused him of abusing her. She said Brown assaulted her. A judge had to issue a restraining order.”

“It’s the height of hypocrisy for him to claim to be an advocate for women with these disturbing charges in his past,” #MeToo Ohio Communications Coordinator Alice Stewart said. “It’s time to demonstrate, yet again, that women deserve to be believed.”

“striving to hold accountable the men who hold on to powerful positions while having a history of domestic violence of women.”

“#MeToo Ohio urges Ohioans to call Congress and demand laws that allow every domestic violence victim be heard. Furthermore, Senator Brown should resign immediately and no longer hide behind his Washington title.” 

Please sign this petition to hold past, present and future domestic violence offenders in power positions accountable. 

 Sincere gratiude to cited material in this petition for being a voice to victims. 

https://dailycaller.com/2018/09/13/sherrod-brown-abuse-me-too-moment/

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence

Thank you.