NBC Connecticut reports:

John Michael Farren, a former top attorney to President Bush, is accused of beating his wife with a flashlight and trying to strangle her inside their New Canaan home…

The alleged attack happened two days after Mary Farren delivered divorce papers to him, according to the arrest affidavit. She was in stable condition at Norwalk Hospital with a broken nose, a broken jaw and other injuries…

Farren, who was born in Waterbury, work[ed] for President George W. Bush and President George H.W. Bush. In 2007, President George W. Bush named Farren Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President, according to a White House personnel announcement.

According to his Linkedin profile:

Farren’s duties encompassed matters within the Executive Office of the President including legislation, executive orders, litigation, appointments and nominations, congressional oversight, and liaison with the legal counsels in federal departments. Prior to April 2007 he was General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Xerox Corporation. Farren joined Xerox in 1992, and initially had responsibility for public policy activities.

Farren was Under Secretary for International Trade in the U.S. Department of Commerce from 1989 to 1992 and previously was Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, Counsellor to the Secretary of Commerce and Director of the Office of Business Liaison. He began his career in 1973 as a staff assistant for a Member of Congress; and was Vice President of the Greater Waterbury (Ct.) Chamber of Commerce from 1978 to 1981; and served as Director of White House Liaison at the Republican National Committee from 1981 to 1983. In 1988 and 1989, he was the Deputy Director of President George H. W. Bush’s transition team, was Counsel with the law firm of Wiggin & Dana in New Haven, Ct. and was Deputy Campaign Manager of the Bush-Quayle 1992 re-election committee.