Dornan Says No Political Motivations for Telling Story

Rep. Robert K. Dornan, the conservative Orange County congressman and presidential hopeful, took issue Thursday with a Los Angeles Times report that detailed his wife’s use of Valium and the legal problems it caused him, but he said the story “should put an end to the unfounded, vicious allegations that have haunted my family for many years.”

The story, published in Thursday’s editions of The Times, centered on allegations of wife-beating that his wife, Sallie, has leveled repeatedly against Dornan (R-Garden Grove) in court--allegations that she and family members now say were groundless.

Sallie Dornan and other family members, pointing to medical records and other material provided to the newspaper, blamed the allegations on Sallie Dornan’s years-long battle with alcohol and prescription drugs. The allegations, they said, were a cry for attention.

Robert Dornan’s office received several calls Thursday from Hollywood producers and television programmers, including those for the “Sally Jessy Raphael” show and “Good Morning America,” who wanted to speak with the 17-year lawmaker about the emotional issue. But an aide who asked not to be identified said Robert Dornan, 60, would be turning down all requests on the subject.

Some constituents also called Robert Dornan’s office to “tell Sallie we love her,” the aide said.

In a statement put out to the press Thursday, Dornan took issue with what he termed a “major misconception” in The Times’ story--that the family stepped forward to tell its story in part because of political motivations.

“Nothing is further from the truth,” said Dornan, who is exploring a 1996 campaign for President and is also considering a run against U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

“Let me make it clear that I and my family would have preferred that this story had never been printed. . . . Political considerations played absolutely no part in our decision to come forward at this time,” Robert Dornan said in the statement.

He said the family agreed to cooperate with the newspaper only out of “fear of what would happen if we did not--a potential smear job by the L.A. Times that would be long on innuendo, short on facts, and given to sensational headlines.”

Martin Baron, editor of The Times Orange County Edition, disputed the assertion.

“Our story never said that Bob Dornan actively sought to have this story published because of political ambition,” Baron said in a statement. “The congressman’s statement is a gross mischaracterization of what was in our story. We never threatened the Dornan family in any way, and the very notion that we can threaten Bob Dornan is preposterous.”

Baron noted that Dornan’s “political prominence” had prompted the newspaper to investigate the “serious allegations” that Sallie Dornan had made against him in sworn statements in four separate divorce actions between 1960 and 1976.

But, Baron said, “on any number of occasions, the Dornans said it would be best to have this story finally told and that their story might help others who are suffering or abusing drugs.”