California GOP gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder's ex-fiancee says he brandished a gun at her while high
Alexandra Datig, the former fiancée of conservative radio talk show host and California Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder, told Politico that she ended their relationship in 2015 after he waved a gun at her while high on marijuana.
Datig, who signed a non-disclosure agreement when she broke up with Elder, said she decided to come forward to share her story because "the state of California is on the line," and if voters decide to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in September and replace him with Elder, it will be "a disaster."
Datig, 51, said she met Elder, 69, at a Playboy Mansion party in the early 2000s, but they didn't start dating until several years later. During their relationship, she said, Elder pressured her to get a tattoo that said "Larry's Girl," which Datig, a victim of sex trafficking, says she now believes was his way of branding her. He would often become threatening toward her, Datig alleged, and during a 2015 incident in their home, she feared for her life.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Elder regularly used marijuana, Datig said, and was high during the episode. She told Politico he pulled a .45 pistol out of a nightstand in their bedroom and "checked if it was loaded while I was talking. He wanted to make sure I saw that he had it." Datig said she briefly "thought it was a Phil Spector moment," referring to the music producer who fatally shot actress Lana Clarkson at his home in 2003. "My fear was great, and I understood I needed to de-escalate." Datig told Politico she was raised to know that you "never use a gun in anger, and you don't use it when you're drunk or you're high to make a point in frustration — which is what he did."
Datig, who produced more than 100 episodes of Elder's talk show and created his blog The Elder Statement, runs a conservative political website, and has endorsed Kevin Faulconer, a former mayor of San Diego, in the recall election. Both Datig and Faulconer told Politico she is not working for him, and Datig was adamant that she isn't being paid by anyone. "I am doing this because I care about California," she said. "It's about ability and capacity — and I don't think Larry has the ability or capacity." Elder told the Los Angeles Times in a statement he never "brandished a gun at anyone."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
The mental health crisis affecting vets
Under The Radar Death of Hampshire vet highlights mental health issues plaguing the industry
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Peru for final summits
Speed Read President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, visit the Amazon rainforest and attend two major international summits
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published