Grand jury finds probable cause to charge sitting legislator with domestic violence

Sanford Republican Rep. Lucas Lanigan was indicted on Wednesday after a grand jury found probable cause to charge the sitting legislator on two counts for domestic violence offenses.  

Lanigan, who was arraigned in York County Superior Court, pleaded not guilty to both charges, which include a Class B felony for aggravated domestic violence and a Class D misdemeanor for domestic violence charges. An indictment is not a guilty verdict or sentencing, rather it means the grand jury found probable cause to convict Lanigan on the charges the police recommended. 

Lanigan was arrested one week before the November election for domestic violence aggravated assault. According to a police report, a Sanford police officer alleged that Lanigan strangled his wife after she confronted him and another woman his wife believed he was having an affair with. Lanigan then won reelection by one vote after a recount.

During Lanigan’s first court appearance in October, his wife called the incident a “misunderstanding” and said the case should be dropped. However, Assistant District Attorney Linda Holdsworth-Donovan said victims regularly recant or downplay their stories after the fact and that the state would still pursue charges. 

Lanigan, who represents the towns of Newfield, Shapleigh, and parts of Sanford and Springvale, did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication. He told the Portland Press Herald that he promised his caucus he would “immediately resign and step down” if he is convicted, “because someone that’s convicted of that should not be serving in the House of Representatives.”

The Maine Democratic Party called for Lanigan’s resignation following the indictment, reiterating earlier calls from the party and Democratic legislators. 

“There is no place for domestic violence in our society,” Maine Democratic Party Vice Chair Imke Schessler-Jandreau said in a statement, “and I call on Republican leaders to join the widespread calls for Mr. Lanigan’s immediate resignation.”

In response to a request for comment, the office of Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford) pointed to the statement Fecteau made on Oct. 29, 2024 regarding Lanigan’s arrest, in which he also called for Lanigan to resign.

“We expect better of our public officials,” Fecteau said. “Mr. Lanigan should resign from the office he holds and drop out of his bid for re-election. He should be held accountable by the law and should seek the help he needs.”

In January, Maine House members voted 74-69 to direct the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against Lanigan to determine if he had violated the code of ethics. A report is due a month after the committee convenes. 

One day after that vote, Finding Our Voices, a domestic violence survivor network, held a protest against Lanigan’s reelection. 

“Thank you to the York County DA for continuing to pursue criminal charges against Lucas Lanigan,” Patrisha McLean, CEO and founder of Finding Our Voices, wrote in a statement to Maine Morning Star following the indictment. “And thank you to every individual working to end Lanigan’s law making abilities: Maine needs stronger laws against domestic violence stranglers and not lawmakers who stand indicted for domestic violence strangling.”

Editor’s Note: This story was updated with responses from the Legislature’s presiding officers.