False Allegations of Domestic Violence: Newest Political Smear Tactic?
Former Vice President Al Gore was recently accused of sexual assault by a massage therapist in Portland, Oregon. Although the woman’s account of the alleged assault is vivid, questions linger why she waited nearly four years after the encounter to file her complaint. A Gore spokesperson “unequivocally and emphatically†denied the truth of the allegation, and Portland police have refused to pursue the case.
The accusations against Al Gore came just three months after reports surfaced that campaign worker Jennifer Firth had filed a civil harassment suit in 2000 against Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA). Two days later Firth’s attorney withdrew the suit, admitting “the above allegations [by Firth] are not supported by ‘good grounds.’â€Â
Former Congressman Al Wynn (D-MD) is another victim of a false accusation of domestic violence. Wynn was once threatened by his (now) ex-wife that if he didn’t do what she wanted him to do, she’d “throw myself down the stairs,†call the police, and work to “ruin your political career.â€Â
In New York, former Republican Congressman John Sweeney found himself locked in a close re-election race in 2006. Six days before the election, a local newspaper published an account of an alleged domestic violence incident that had taken place 11 months before. But the newspaper report failed to mention that Sweeney’s wife had assaulted the Congressman, and he had photographic evidence of the bruises, bite marks, and scratches to prove it. On November 7, 2006, Sweeney narrowly lost the election.
In Alabama, former state Rep. Eric Major won a $500,000 false-arrest lawsuit in 2007 against the city of Birmingham, stemming from false allegations of domestic violence by his ex-fiancee.
Each year, at least one million false or trivial allegations of domestic violence are filed: http://www.saveservices.org/downloads/VAWA-A-Culture-of-False-Allegations  . The victims of these accusations include politicians, sports figures, and average hard-working citizens. The list goes on.
False allegations represent a form of social and legal abuse that can stigmatize a person, break-up the family, deplete his assets, and ruin his career. So which lawmakers will have the courage to stand up and say, “Stop the abuse!†before they themselves are caught up in the maw of this modern-day epidemic?
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Stumble It!
A NEW smear tactic? Hardly. Just ask Supreme Court Justice Thomas.
I certainly am not an Al Gore fan but this situation does raise some questions I hope someone is asking.
Why now after over 3 years? Did Molly contact Tipper after she learned of the pending divorce to tell Tipper she can assure that she will get everything in the divorce?
Did Tipper suddenly supply the DNA evidence Molly suddenly has
because it would appear it would have been there a few years ago too.
Would she not have given them that “evidence” when she first reported it….if she had it then?
If they are able to prove this DNA was planted, would two women go to jail for tampering with evidence as men would if they did the same thing?…Or would they be changed with extortion? Somehow I
highly doubt that.
For those who heard Molly, did she sound shocked to you? Should these things shock even legitimate massage therapist or would they be trained to handle situations such as this be they from men or women?