Scott Lee Cohen, a Chicago pawnbroker who dropped out of Illinois’ race for lieutenant governor earlier this year after past allegations of domestic violence came to light, is now running for governor. He filed petitions yesterday to run as an independent.
As we previously reported, Cohen, then the Democratic nominee in the state’s race for lieutenant governor, dropped out in February “amid allegations of steroid abuse, sexual assault (of his ex-wife), domestic abuse (of his ex-girlfriend) and failure to pay child support.” He later claimed that he “was forced out by the Democratic Party.”
On Monday, the State-Journal Register reports, Cohen wheeled in a stack of 133,000 signatures and told reporters that “in life, things happen, and sometimes life can beat you down. You have to be strong enough to pick yourself up, brush yourself off and move forward.”
He added: “I am extremely confident that a majority of the people of Illinois have forgiven some of my behaviors.”
Cohen will face incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn (D) and state Sen. Bill Brady (R) in the general election.
