MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Who is Anthony Bouchard's wife? Wyoming senator slammed after he reveals he impregnated 15-year-old girl at 19

Candidate for Wyoming House seat says 'it's like the Romeo and Juliet story' and comes out slamming 'dirty politics' and asks 'can't we let people rest in peace?'

Wyoming State Senator Anthony Bouchard has rocked the state and indeed the country after he revealed he impregnated a 15-year-old girl when he was 19. The senator, who is running to replace Rep Liz Cheney, came out and told his supporters the truth in a Facebook Live video. Reportedly, Bouchard is raising the couple's son after the girl died at 20.

The Congressional candidate revealed the facts to his supporters and claimed that he wanted to get ahead of the story. According to him, an opposition research company was digging into his past and was about to publish the story. He spilled all the details, including the fact that he married the girl, who hasn't been named.

READ MORE

Who is Ian Diaz? US marshal, wife lured Craigslist users with 'rape fantasy' in scheme to set up ex-girlfriend

Who is Mandy R Davis? Ohio teacher's aide, 33, had sex with student, 12, at her home repeatedly for two weeks

It's unclear as of now if the story will affect Bouchard's candidacy. The Republican is considered a frontrunner to replace Cheney, who was recently ousted from Republican leadership in Congress. Judging by Twitter's reaction though, it seems like he is going to have a hard time convincing voters that he's the best man for the job. Here's everything we know.

Bouchard's first wife

The senator didn't reveal the name or age of his first wife. He told followers, "They're willing to go back 40 years, to something that happened in my youth." He then provides some details about his first marriage. "Two teenagers, girl gets pregnant. You've probably heard those stories before." Bouchard doesn't specify either of their ages, he only says "she was a bit younger than me. So like a Romeo and Juliet story". He later provided some details to the Star Tribune. 

He then claims that he had a "lot of pressure to abort the baby", but neither he nor the girl was willing to do that. He calls getting married to the girl, "the right thing to do". Bouchard revealed to the Tribune that he was 19, and she was 15 when they decided to get married. Since they were living in Florida at the time, they were able to do so. They divorced approximately three years later and the girl reportedly died at 20. The Star Tribune was able to cross-verify the girl's identity but chose not to reveal it. According to the paper, she was buried in Jacksonville, Florida in 1990. Bouchard defended his decision saying, "I'd do it again. I'm not saying I'd make the same choices, but by golly we all make choices." He reiterated he "did the right thing", and goes on to talk about his childhood, and his first job.

After her death, Bouchard said he continued to raise the couple's son. He referenced his son a few times in the 13-minute long video. "He's almost become my estranged son. Some of the things that he's got going on his life, I certainly don't approve of them. But I'm not going to abandon him. I still love him. Just like when he was born," Bouchard said. 

He also slammed the opposition, who he believed was behind the story. Bouchard opened the video by saying, "This is really a message about how dirty politics is. And they'll stop at nothing man. They'll come after you. That's why good people don't run for office." In his interview with the Tribune, the senator said, "I don't want to hide anything. I don't want people drug into this. This is just crazy over politics."

It's unclear which opposition Bouchard was referring to. He only told the Tribune, "We know the company that started this investigation. It's a political opposition research company. We know who they are and then it turned into a U.K. media reporter, is who's called me." He said he did not respond to that reporter. 

Bouchard called 'slime in the backwater'

While the story has sent shockwaves all across the nation, many users on social media seem to be taking particular offense with Bouchard's comparison to Romeo and Juliet. Comedian Steve Hofstetter tweeted, "BREAKING: Turns out Liz Cheney’s GOP opponent impregnated a 14 year old when he was 18, and justified his statutory rape by comparing it to Romeo and Juliet. I will happily remind him how that story ended." Another said, "The only way this story seems to veer from Romeo and Juliet is that Anthony Bouchard is still alive."

"Raped a 14 year old Anthony Bouchard? You guys will really prop up a pedo over a woman who speaks her mind, huh? Sorry state" tweeted one person. Another said, "Bouchard raping a 14 year old who later committed suicide would certainly qualify him to run for office as a Republican."

One person said, "If Cheney is the swamp, Bouchard is the slime in the backwater." Another tweeted, "Gee whiz, if Bouchard is one of the “good people in politics”, we are in real trouble."

"18 is old enough to know that 14 year olds are off limits. I can't believe there are people actually defending Bouchard. He literally raped a child."

According to Bouchard, his first wife killed herself after having trouble in another relationship. He asked, "Can't we let people rest in peace?" before slamming the "establishment swamp" for dragging the story out. Bouchard is currently married to Billie Jean according to online records and the couple have four children together.