Estes, Thompson clash over police records, character and abortion in fiery debate
Estes has sought to highlight a 2001 incident where Thompson struck a bar patron while working as a bouncer, as well as a separate report that claimed Thompson struck a woman. Thompson has vehemently denied that he struck the woman, or any woman.
Thompson has said the 2000 case involving the woman was dismissed because it was found that the man who did hit the woman had falsely identified himself to police as Thompson.
But he acknowledged Friday night striking a bar patron while he worked Acapulco Joe's.
"He hit me when I was throwing him out and I hit him back. And I'm telling you right now, today, that if you hit me I'm going to hit you back. That's just the way it works and that's the way it works in the bar industry," Thompson said. "What's sad about this, though, is
Court records show Thompson was convicted in
Estes said he was shocked by the seriousness of the information about Thompson when it was brought to him.
"I just think as we work together to solve our nation's problems, we have enough belligerence in
Later, speaking about the
Estes said as victims are supported, due process must not be trampled for people who are accused.
"I don't want my daughters to ever be a victim of sexual assault, but I also don't want my son to ever be a victim of being accused of something he didn't do and just take it for granted because they're not doing due process," Estes said.
Thompson responded that he found Estes' answer "rich" because he is "willing to cast aspersions on me with things that are untrue."
Answering a question about increasing partisanship, Thompson blamed both parties for a deteriorating situation in
Thompson said he doesn't take donations from corporate political action committees, but that Estes "takes an incredible amount."
Estes responded by saying that corporate donations are illegal and that PACs are made up of individual workers at companies who make contributions.
A short time later, Estes said Thompson as an attorney is "supposed to be smart enough to know" that individuals, not corporations, donate to PACs.
"To call me a liar because of that is outlandish for him to do. That's beneath the standards of someone who wants to be in
The fight between Estes and Thompson also turned personal when the topic moved to abortion.
Asked what legislation they would support if the
"I find it rich that my opponent would talk about the sanctity of life or protecting life when all he's really concerned about is birth," Thompson said. "He doesn't really give a damn about a child after it's been born. He doesn't care the child doesn't have healthcare or the child can't get educated or that the woman can't get childcare while she tries to find work."
In response, Estes said
"To say we don't care about people once they're born, that we only care about the unborn, is false," Estes said.
The debate was the latest clash between the two men, who have been political opponents since the early days of 2017, when they ran against each other in a special election to fill the House seat vacated by
Thompson gained national notoriety during the
Thompson immediately vowed to again challenge Estes and has continued his campaign operation ever since.
This year, Sen.
Estes' campaign has turned on highlighting the nation's strong economic performance while painting Thompson as a socialist.
In closing, Thompson called out a "do-nothing
The aggressive remarks during Friday's debate suggest the race will only intensify in the final weeks leading up to the
Contributing:
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