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Court Documents Detail Allegations Against State Sen. Jeff Woodburn

Allegra Boverman for NHPR

Newly released court documents use Whitefield State Senator Jeff Woodburn's personal diaries to corroborate the domestic violence charges faced by the former Senate Democratic Leader.

According to an affidavit filed by a state investigator, last Christmas Day Woodburn wrote in his diary that he was "focused on my failure to control my anger,"  "It is becoming regular and it scares me."

In an earlier entry, from that August, Woodburn describes kicking the door off the dryer after an argument that included his partner throwing his clothes out on the lawn.

In a separate incident, Woodburn wrote of forcing his way into his partner's home when she failed to open the door so he could retrieve a forgotten wallet. "I became enraged and kicked the door in," Woodburn wrote.

Other affidavit details come from images from the alleged victim's phone, including photos of bruising and a bite mark on her wrist.

The biting allegedly happened in June, after Woodburn's birthday party, an event he uses as a political fundraiser. The affidavit states Woodburn had been drinking at the party and grabbed the wheel as the victim drove, and bit her arm as she struggled to keep the moving car under control.

In court filings, Woodburn says he will argue self-defense at trial, which is scheduled for December.   

Josh has worked at NHPR since 2000.
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