Sean Parnell, a former senatorial and congressional candidate in Pennsylvania, announced on Father’s Day that he has received “vindication” from the “family court system” following a custody dispute with his ex-wife.
Parnell, a combat veteran who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, shared on X that his “rights” have been “fully restored,” and that he now has a “more favorable custody arrangement” since November 2023.
This update follows the previous custody ruling in November 2021, where Laurie Snell, Parnell’s ex-wife, was granted “primary physical custody and sole legal custody” of their three children, as reported by CNN.
During the dispute over custody between Parnell and his ex-wife, the mainstream media and his political rival at the time, Jeff Bartos, launched a smear campaign against Parnell and involved his children.
Bartos, who had previously interned under former President Bill Clinton, ran for office as a Republican.
In September 2021, The Philadelphia Inquirer published an article alleging that Bartos considered Parnell “unelectable” because of his ex-wife’s past requests for protective orders in 2017 and 2018. However, it was noted that both protective orders had been expunged by the court.
Jonathan Tamari with the Inquirer wrote:
Bartos’ criticism centers on two temporary protection-from-abuse orders issued against Parnell in 2017 and 2018. Neither was extended after a full hearing involving both parties, and both were later expunged.
It remains unclear what Parnell’s wife accused him of doing when the temporary orders were issued. Parnell and his wife are in an ongoing divorce and custody battle.
Word of the protective orders has been quietly simmering in political and media circles for months, but Bartos made them public for the first time in an interview Tuesday.
He planned to release a memo Wednesday on the matter and why it should steer Republicans away from Parnell.
CNN likewise published an article stating that Parnell had “significant personal baggage that is raising concerns.” The outlet went on to allege that a “rival Republican candidate” had shared “details about Parnell’s ongoing and messy divorce and custody cases.”
Following the court’s decision to grant legal custody of his children to his ex-wife, Parnell expressed deep dismay and announced the suspension of his senatorial campaign.
“On this Father’s Day, I wanted to share a significant personal update,” Parnell began. “After enduring two challenging years of navigating the hellscape that is our family court system I have been vindicated. Since November of last year, I have had a more favorable custody arrangement than ever before. All my rights have been fully restored. Shared legal and physical custody.”
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Parnell added that “shortly” after this, he ended up adopting his wife Melanie’s daughters and that now he is a father “of 5 amazing kids.”
“Each moment spent as their father fills me with immense joy,” Parnell added. “The journey to this point has been arduous, and I never imagined I would have to fight so hard simply to be a father.”
Parnell continued to explain that “life often presents us with unexpected challenges, and as difficult as those can be, we have to face them with resolute spirit and hope.”
**An Important Father's Day Update**
On this Father's Day, I wanted to share a significant personal update. After enduring two challenging years of navigating the hellscape that is our family court system I have been vindicated. Since November of last year, I have had a more… pic.twitter.com/Sltmh8FKx7
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) June 16, 2024
Parnell’s ex-wife had been awarded custody of their children despite there being inconsistencies in her allegations that Parnell had abused their two children.
As Breitbart News previously reported, Snell was questioned in court about “text messages she sent” to Parnell in June 2018, praising him for being a good father and asking him if he would watch their children months after alleged incidents of abuse had occurred.
In previous testimony, Snell claimed that “Parnell hit a child on the back and left welts,” while in another incident, she claimed that Parnell had “slammed a door that hit another child’s face and left a bruise.”
“To the fathers navigating the family court system who may be deprived of your children’s company today, I deeply empathize with your pain,” Parnell added. “It is a hell that I would not wish upon my worst enemy. Stay strong. If you can’t afford an attorney, so what. Represent yourself. As a father in family court the deck will always be stacked against you. There will be many unjust moments when you feel like quitting. Don’t. Continue to fight for your children and persevere through the difficulties. The hell will end. Just hang in there.”
