JUST IN: Top Democrat Senator Embroiled In New Scandal

A top U.S. Senate Democrat has been caught on camera cozying up to one of the biggest Trump critics in progressive media, raising questions about both individuals’ impartiality at a time when the left is ramping up its attacks on President Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), 59, was spotted in a Washington, D.C. bar over the weekend “cuddling” with Courier Newsroom publisher Tara McGowan, 39, just months after the Connecticut Democrat announced he and his wife planned to separate. McGowan has used her newspaper to elevate Murphy’s profile as a left-wing organizer in the Senate’s Democratic caucus.

A photo of the couple, obtained by a source at the restaurant, shows Sen. Murphy with his arm around McGowan as they sat barside and peered at a menu of Italian fare together. The two were “being cutesy,” the person told the NY Post.

The Democratic lawmaker is still legally married to his wife, Cathy Holahan, a D.C.-based lawyer, according to a review of court filings by the outlet. The couple announced in November that they would begin the process of divorce.

Other outlets have spoken with Democratic insiders who say that neither Murphy or McGowan are waiting around.

One party source told Semafor about a recent Instagram post by McGowan conspicuously captioned “not postponing joy.” She has since deactivated her account following new attention from the media.

Sen. Murphy and his wife met while attending the University of Connecticut Law School and married in 2007. They share two children.

“After much reflection and discussion, we have decided to separate as a couple,” the couple wrote on November 17th in a letter to close friends announcing their impending divorce after 17 years of marriage.

“We do so with deep care and respect for each other, and with a focus on continuing to be friends and loving, collaborative parents to our boys whom we adore.

“This was a difficult decision, but we believe that it is right for us, and we are going to move onto this new path the right way,” they added. “We will continue to support each other personally and professionally. And we hope you all will stay connected with both of us.”

McGowan last year separated with Michael Halle, a Democratic strategist who has previously advised former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, and former President Barack Obama. The two filed for divorce in 2023, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

As the publisher of Courier Newsroom, McGowan has been at the forefront of launching or purchasing local news outlets across the country that positively portray the machinations of state and federal Democrats. Recent stories reviewed by the Post tout Sen. Murphy as a “pro-democracy” Democrat in the Senate who has gone on offense on issues like gun control, immigration, and foreign relations.

Lawsuits against Courier and its owner, Acronym, have accused the company of “masquerading as a news outlet,” though that complaint was later dismissed by the Federal Election Commission.

“Beyond original newsletters, podcasts + social video series, COURIER’s new national vertical will publish video opinion pieces from prominent pro-democracy leaders fighting for our rights and freedoms, like this call from U.S. Senator @ChrisMurphyCT to ban assault weapons in [America],” reads a Courier social media post shared by McGowan in November 2023, two months after her final divorce proceeding with Halle.

“Republicans wanted — demanded — border legislation. Democrats, led by @ChrisMurphyCT, negotiated a bipartisan deal,” reads a February 7th, 2024 post that included a video interview with Sen. Murphy. “Now, because of Trump’s hold over the GOP, the bill is dead. Here is Murphy on why you should never again believe Republicans when they talk about the border.”

Murphy, who was safely reelected last year, has emerged as an authoritative anti-Trump voice in his party who has jostled to steer it in a new direction. In an interview with the New York Times last month, he declared the Democratic Party’s brand “fundamentally broken, the rule of law is disintegrating and a lot of people still don’t know what Trump’s actual agenda is.”

McGowan has taken to sharing some of Murphy’s self-promotional posts, such as when she reposted a CNN interview he recently did with Dana Bash.

“Trump sides with dictators [because] it legitimizes his plan for America: A Russian-style kleptocracy where the rich steal from us to enrich themselves,” Murphy wrote at the time.