Embattled Maine governor denies being 'an alcoholic,' 'a drug addict,' or having 'mental issues'

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) swore off talking to the press for good Wednesday, following a particularly contentious week for the governor that led to rumors of his resignation amid personal issues. "I will no longer speak to the press ever again after today," LePage told reporters. "And I'm serious. Everything will be put in writing. I am tired of being caught — the gotcha moments."

Last Thursday, LePage left Democratic state Rep. Drew Gattine a profanity-filled voicemail and later threatened to shoot Gattine in the head; LePage was irate Gattine had apparently suggested he was "racist" for characterizing Maine's drug dealers as "90-plus percent ... black and Hispanic." Then, on Friday, LePage characterized the "bad guy" in Maine as primarily "people of color or people of Hispanic origin." Following those incidents, the media reported that LePage was considering resigning after he refused to say whether or not he would finish his second term as governor.

LePage has since hit back at the "greatly exaggerated" reports about his resignation, as well as speculation that he might need professional help. "To whomever it was, I'm not an alcoholic and I'm not a drug addict and I don't have mental issues," he said. “What I have is a backbone, and I wanna move Maine forward and, you know, in this politics, it's very hard to be a one-man show."

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