Update: Abrams Drops Bid for Greenwich's 149th State House Seat

Update: 1:25 p.m.

Greenwich Democrat Marc Abrams officially announced Friday afternoon that he is suspending his campaign for the 149th state Assembly seat.

The decision is fallout from revelations earlier this week that Abrams had been named in a sexual harassment case in 2010 and there are still civil claims unresolved in the New York State court system. Reportedly several high-level Connecticut Democrats, including Gov. Dannel Malloy, pressured Abrams to drop his bid to unseat seven-term Republican Livvy Floren.

Here is the statement issued by Abrams’ campaign at 1:16 p.m. Friday:

I decided to run because I want to genuinely give back to my community and help make our state a better, stronger Connecticut. My campaign always focused on issues and never repeated gossip or brought up past mistakes. Instead when the debate came, I focused on the issues, such as my plans to grow the economy by diversifying and strategic investment; and also informed people about my opponent’s voting record on key votes such as against gay marriage, the minimum wage increase, Connecticut’s health care exchange and her introduction of a voter suppression bill, as well as her missing so many key votes. No sooner than my campaign began to catch people’s attention did my opponents’ change the conversation to one that is beneath our community. As to the allegations I will not dignify them other than to say that I have been exonerated by the EEOC and the charges dismissed in federal court. There do remain some claims in the State Court which will also result in my exoneration. While we always knew this was going to be an uphill battle, we never foresaw this level of negative attack possible in our community. I was ready before and ready now to win this election based on the merits. But my first priority is to my family and although they understood these false allegations may be brought up, we never fathomed the level of viciousness. I cannot in good conscience be a part of my family being subjected to this onslaught, and I am therefore withdrawing from the race.

To all of you that have reached out in support, and I was awed by the number; I want to remind you that I’ve been working hard since my father abandoned me in my teens; earned a great education and rose to build successful innovative businesses; so when I say look forward to returning to politics when it is the right thing for my family, I mean it.

Original story: 1:06 p.m.

Buckling under reported pressure from Gov. Dannel Malloy, it appears that Democrat Marc Abrams of Greenwich is dropping his campaign for the 149th General Assembly seat.

Abrams, a District 11 member of the Representative Town Meeting, was challenging seven-term Republican Livvy Floren for the seat that also represents North Stamford.

According to Hearst Connecticut Media Group, Malloy called Abrams on Friday and told him he would publicly denounce him since news of a sexual harassment lawsuit against Abrams and his brother surfaced earlier this week. Other state level Democrats also pressured Abrams and local Democrats to suspend the campaign, according to the report.

Greenwich Democratic Town Committee Chair Frank Farricker confirmed Abrams’ withdrawl, as did Malloy’s senior campaign advisor Mark Bergman, according to the report.

A spokesman for Abrams campaign said a “statement will be forthcoming shortly.”

Check back for updates.

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Contributed photo: Marc Abrams.