FREEPORT

Assistant House Majority Leader Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, on Friday called for the resignation of Gov. Paul LePage.

A statement issued by the House Democratic Office said the call was made “in the wake of his violent threats directed at a state lawmaker.”

LePage is drawing condemnation after leaving a vulgar voicemail on the phone of Democratic Rep. Drew Gattine, and then expressing the desire to shoot the Westbrook legislator in a duel.

During a news conference Friday in Augusta where he again defended himself, Le- Page said Gattine calling him a racist was more offensive than anything he said in response. Gattine, however, has denied calling LePage a racist.

After leaving the voicemail, LePage told reporters that he was angry enough to have a duel with Gattine and put a gun “right between his eyes,” according to a report in the Portland Press Herald.

LePage is dismissing calls from Democrats that he should resign.

At a separate news conference in Portland, Gideon called for a “political intervention” from members of both parties to either ensure that the governor “gets the help that he needs” or that he’s removed from office.

Gideon said LePage’s behavior is inappropriate for “any human being who’s functioning normally in society.”

LePage has apologized to “the people of Maine” for leaving the voicemail and said he was using a metaphor when he said he wished he could challenge the lawmaker to a duel.

LePage said in a written statement Friday that he takes it “very seriously” when someone calls him a racist and that it made him “enormously angry” when he heard from a reporter that Gattine had called him one.

LePage said being called a racist is “the absolute worst, most vile thing you can call a person.” So he said he referred to Gattine as a vulgar name involving oral sex because it was the “worst word” he could think of.

Maine Democrats, meanwhile, began a chorus of condemnation.

First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree on Friday stated: “This kind of angry, hate-filled speech has no place in politics or public policy and it’s shocking that the top elected official in our state would use such language,” Pingree said in a statement. “We have seen the steady loss of civility in politics at a national level, and it is sad and embarrassing that our own governor is contributing to that troubling trend. We face some serious problems in this country and this state and they deserve serious discussions, not obscenity-laden threats from a public official.”

Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett issued the following: “Gov. LePage’s direct threat against Rep. Gattine is both erratic and disturbing, and he is clearly unfit to lead our state. Not only did the governor blatantly say he would take violent action against a sitting lawmaker, he also twice invoked a homophobic slur to drive home his point. Those reckless remarks may incite others to violence. Our primary concern right now is for the security and well-being of Rep. Gattine and his family. Paul LePage is an increasingly menacing figure who does not reflect the values of our state.”

“It’s clear from the governor’s threats that he is not mentally or emotionally fit to hold this office,” said Gideon, D-Freeport, in a press release. “I am calling on the governor to resign, acknowledge the real problems with his behavior and take appropriate steps to get help. I’m asking my Republican colleagues to join us in a political intervention for the sake of Maine people, the reputation of our state and the institution of the governor’s office.”

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