Tom Carper, who admitted to domestic violence, will resign from the Senate.

Longtime Democratic Senator Tom Carper to Retire

History of Domestic Abuse

Delaware Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat who admitted to hitting his now-deceased ex-wife in the face and giving her a black eye, has announced his retirement from politics next year. Carper has been in the Senate since 2001 and has been in politics since 1976.

In 1998, Carper admitted to slapping his wife 20 years prior, saying he regretted it and would not do it again. However, he denied allegations of abuse against his first wife, Diane Carper, throughout his political career. Evidence of the abuse includes a 1981 court deposition in which he admitted to slapping her and causing discoloration and puffiness around her left eye.

The News Journal, a local paper, did not report on the allegations during Carper’s 1982 run for Congress, stating that the charges could not be substantiated. Carper divorced Diane Carper in 1983.

After the allegations resurfaced in 2017, Carper acknowledged the incident but denied trying to hide the abuse. The News Journal did not mention the history of domestic abuse in its article on Carper’s retirement, instead focusing on his “quirks.”

Retirement Announcement

Carper announced his retirement on Monday, stating that it was time to “pass the torch to the next generation.” This will be the first time his name is absent from the Senate ballot since 1999. Carper serves on the national advisory board for Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.