Mississippi lawmaker accused of punching wife in face for not undressing quickly enough

According to the Sun Herald, state Rep. Douglas McLeod, R-Lucedale, was arrested over the weekend after George County sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a domestic assault at his home Saturday night.

When deputies arrived, McLeod, 58, was drunk and holding an alcoholic drink, authorities said. McLeod asked, "Are you kidding me?" after deputies said they were there to investigate a possible domestic assault, according to the incident report.

McLeod shouted, "The cops are here," slurred his words and appeared to have trouble walking, the report said.

Deputies entered the home and found McLeod's wife and another woman at the top of the stairs, the Sun Herald reported. The lawmaker's wife said McLeod was intoxicated and "snapped" because she undressed too slowly when he wanted sex, authorities said. She told deputies that he struck her in the face, giving her a bloody nose.

McLeod's wife then fled to the other woman's room, the report said. He banged on the locked door and threatened to kill the woman's dog if she didn't let him in, the woman told deputies.

McLeod's wife declined an ambulance trip to the hospital but said her daughter would drive her there for an examination, the report said.

Authorities charged McLeod with misdemeanor domestic violence. He was released from the George County jail after posting $1,000 bail, the Sun Herald reported.

State House Speaker Philip Gunn said McLeod, who is in his second term, should step down if the allegations are true.

"These actions are unacceptable for anyone," Gunn, a Republican, said in a statement to the Sun Herald.

Democratic state Sen. David Blount also tweeted that McLeod should resign.

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