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A member of the Bush family running for Maine governor attempted to get ahead of his dark past unveiled by the Daily Mail before launching his campaign, according to a new report. Jonathan Bush, the 56-year-old cousin of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, launched his gubernatorial bid earlier this month. In 2018, the Daily Mail revealed Bush confessed to ‘numerous physical altercations’ with his ex-wife Sarah Selden. This included him 'repeatedly slamming his closed fist into her sternum [breastbone]', while in the presence of their child who was a baby at the time. The Republican's actions plunged the political dynasty into crisis after the details emerged as part of a 2006 custody battle over the couple's five children. Leading up to his campaign announcement, Bush sent a memo to his team summarizing the incidents, the Bangor Daily News reported. The memo allegedly omitted details of the incidents while quoting Selden saying the couple had repaired their relationship and that she supports his bid for governor. On Monday, Bush and his current wife, Fay Rotenberg Bush, published a video slamming the local newspaper for writing about the memo and his dark past. 'The truth of that story is we did have a difficult divorce. Sarah and I did things that we both regret. And we've also forgiven one and other,' he said. 'In fact, we went to the judge and asked for joint custody, and after reviewing all of the information, were granted it. We have coparented well for the last 20 years.' Bush, who co-founded Athenahealth in 1997, said the initial reports were part of an effort to push him out of the multi-billion-dollar company. He stepped down as CEO in 2018 over the reports that emerged involving his behavior towards his ex-wife before the company sold for $17 billion in 2022. Rotenberg Bush then insisted that her husband doesn't not abuse women and is a good father and partner. 'I would never be with, let along marry, someone who mistreats women,' she said. 'Jonathan is an exceptionally loving and engaged father and husband.' Next, they flashed a quote attributed to Selden that said, 'I support Jonathan for governor and I hope the people of Maine will too.' Bush implied that renewed reports on his attack on his ex-wife and inappropriate work video is cancel culture. 'The primary is eight months away, and I will not be distracted. I warned about cancel culture at the beginning of this campaign, and this rehashing of an old story in order to distract from badly needed reform may be an example,' he said. 'Maine is on the wrong track and we must get it in the right direction. That is what voters want. That's why I am running for governor and that is what I am going to fight for.' During the 2006 divorce, Selden alleged that Bush had 'struck her on numerous occasions, once causing a black eye'. A second submission claimed that Bush's behavior had become 'more and more aggressive and hostile.' It says that he had 'screamed at her, directly into her face, calling her a 'whore' while pushing her into the wall and repeatedly slamming his closed fist into her sternum. His hand landed just inches from their baby who was crying. His wife testified that she was very afraid for her own safety and that of the child in her arms. The court papers included an acknowledgment from Bush who agreed 'that such an incident took place.' Not long after his history of violence was uncovered, a video captured in 2017 showed Bush at a healthcare industry event dressed up as a race car driver. Bush was pretending to be the title character of the 2006 comedy 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby', portrayed by Will Ferrell. Bloomberg first reported on the clip, saying that he was seen telling one of his female employees that he wanted to 'jump down on her and do inappropriate things'. After a brief pause, the exec cleared his throat and said: 'Uh, but obviously that's totally inappropriate and would never happen or be said on a microphone.' Additionally, it was revealed that two complaints were also filed against Bush in 2007 and in 2009, alleging inappropriate conduct with female employees. The Daily Mail contacted Bush's campaign for further comment.
