The fiery leader of Montgomery County’s government employees union pointed a gun at his wife and choked her because she wanted to attend a birthday party, according to court documents obtained by The Washington Examiner.
Gino Renne, president of the Municipal and County Government Employees Organization, faces assault charges in a May 15 fight with his wife at their New Market home. According to the records, he charged at her with a revolver pointed at her head and yelled, “I am going to [expletive] kill you.”
Joan Renne told police her husband threw her on the bathroom floor and started choking her, enraged that she wanted to go to a birthday party. He screamed that she was a “[expletive] whore,” “white trailer park trash” and “worthless,” police said.
When Renne yelled for him to stop, the union leader retrieved his gun from the bedroom and charged at her with the weapon.
Gino Renne said he will be vindicated.
“It’s going to turn out OK,” he told The Examiner on Thursday. “I know it will because the evidence is on my side. My family is truly looking forward to getting past this.”
He faces charges of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment, which call for up to 25 years in prison.
He would not say whether his wife planned to drop charges and added that he has no plans to step down from his leadership position.
The fight has avoided the limelight despite taking place nearly a month ago. The union leader is identified in court documents as Fiorigi Renne.
Joan Renne told police she was “terrified” of what would happen to her if “police got involved and confronted her husband.” Police arrested Gino Renne at his Accipiter Drive home and took possession of his revolver.
Renne is known for firing verbal shots at county leaders — particularly as county employees prepare to take furloughs and some are poised to receive pink slips. He has accused County Executive Ike Leggett and the County Council of “lacking the spine” to stand up to school leaders amid historic hemorrhaging of county money.
Renne was not present at his Frederick County Court hearing Thursday, but his lawyer, Kate English, said she expects a “speedy resolution” and that her client will plead not guilty.
The case will move to Frederick County Circuit Court. No trial date has been set.
