Under the current system, staffers must undergo counseling before they can file a sexual harassment complaint, and the accusers are not provided legal counsel
WTF? You have to undergo “counseling” before you file anything? Counseling provided by who?
The accused?
Although the Cernovich - Stone association AND the timing are peculiar to say the least, I am on the fence regarding the veracity of the allegations leveled against Conyers. There seems to be several women making them, and he (or his office) did settle…BUT,
“My office resolved the allegations – with an express denial of liability – in order to save all involved from the rigors of protracted litigation. That should not be lost in the narrative.”
So, again, on the fence.
Counseling, mediation, and a cooling off period, for a total of three months the victim must wait and continue to work with the accused.
“I expressly and vehemently denied the allegations made against me, and continue to do so,” he said in a statement. “My office resolved the allegations – with an express denial of liability – in order to save all involved from the rigors of protracted litigation. That should not be lost in the narrative.”
that was a mistake.
Nancy’s my critter and I have to say she’s demonstrating unnecessary political correctness just as the Ds in the Senate are over Franken. The GOOPs will never need to trash us, we can do it on our own.
Hope they’ve budgeted plenty of overtime for committee staff. Because it looks like both the House and Senate ethics committees are gonna be pretty busy trying to sort this stuff out.
Meanwhile, a supposed sexual misconduct accusation against Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) has been exposed as a (rather transparent) hoax.
FWIW, he is routinely mentioned as one of the worst bosses on Capitol Hill…
What about Trump? Over 16 women have filed complaints and reports on Trump including the raping of a 13 year old girl.
Pelosi…how about acting like a Republican…choose party over country until you at least get back to being in the majority. Try playing hardball for the working class for a change!
Yes, but it is now stunningly clear that the current misconduct complaint system was #1) written by men in a way that twice victimizes their female accusers, and #2) serves to perpetuate BAU, which is also demonstrably inadequate in dealing with a systemic problem. Fortunate or unfortunate (it makes no difference), gender and political affiliation do not follow any scripted pattern. There is a problem in our country in how men treat women, and in how women’s claims of sexual harassment are addressed. This problem exists within our institutions of government, and be it a Democrat or a Republican who steps up to address this problem and forge a better path forward, i am damned proud that it’s a Democrat who has decided to make that happen. This is not an issue that can be brushed under the rug for political expediency. That is precisely what a Republican would do. That is probably the approach a majority of male Democrats would do. Right and wrong do not follow D and R affiliations 100% of the time. Men (and maybe even some women?) in Congress will be outed as sexual aggressors. That’s fine by me, but i can almost guarantee you that when push comes to shove, and these aggressors are forced to take responsibility for their actions, the Ds will be fewer in number than the Rs, and the public’s perception of those allegations will less brutal. Yes, the timing of this issue is tremendously inconvenient for the Democrats. That does not mean that it is, by default, a losing cause for Democrats. Justice has no party affiliation.
Apologies for standing on a soap box. I’m done.
What? Mentioning it at all, or the “express denial of liability” part?
Pass the popcorn, please. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about “our side” recently it’s that nothing sends it into a logic-tailspin quite like one minority behaving badly towards another minority. This should be an enlightening argument.
Believe the accused? You’re pro-sexual-harrassment! Question the accuser? You’re victim-blaming!
Believe the accuser? You’re a racist! Remind everyone about presumption of innocence? You’re a hypocrite!
Yeah, this will be fun and will certainly end well.
This in particular, but the payment as well.
Though the amount was low, if Conyers was certain that he would win, why did he authorized cutting that gal, a check.
Once she got that check, that ‘Express denial’ claim became the equivalent of marzipan.
Sometimes called erring on the side of caution.
It is the right thing for Pelosi to do. Good for her.
The more democrats call for inveestigations of other Democrats on sexual harrassment matters, the more the GOP Cocksuckers look like the cast of ‘Mad Men.’
Nancy SMASH! I think this is exactly the right tactic; let’s get all of this out in the open, have a full investigation and get to the facts. None of these cases should be tried on Twitter, or even in this space. Let justice be served and the chips fall where they may. Now, can we get a bunch of women to reveal how they were harassed, attacked and mauled by the Vulgar Talking Yam? Pretty please??
Your soap box is eminently sensible. Don’t get off it.
@dickweed If the investigation means putting it behind us ASAP, I’m for it. I’m also for Pelosi’s caucus supporting her going forward because she’s doing something which will draw (hypocritical) fire.
@epicurus Yes.
All these chickens coming home…we’re going to need a bigger roost.
Women have talked about what he did to them, at least 14 came forward during the campaign, he threatened to sue all of them “after the election.” He didn’t because clearly what they said was true. He did all the usually piggy things, pushed them up against wall, put orange tongue down mouth, and made sure Mel was not around. But Gloria Allred is representing a woman named Summer Zervos, and they’ll be going to trial soon. Allred’s going to ask pointed questions and hopes to catch him lying under oath.