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Jenny Poyer Ackerman's avatar

Thank you for writing this important essay. It's as well written and reported as it is devastating.

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Peaceful Dave's avatar

Another harmful twist is when rape allegations come riding in on a political horse. When the allegation is seen as an attempt to derail an election or political appointment, partisanship trumps (not that guy) the issue. the supporters of the man so charged unsurprisingly assume that it is a lie for political purpose because of the timing. Of course, the accusation could be true and be being brought forward for political purpose. The partisan who seeks to bring down a political rival unsurprisingly accepts the charge, even when dubious.

I often say that if you mix a teaspoon of sewage with a bottle of fine wine you end up with a bottle of sewage. Politics are more important to most people than justice for some woman defiled, or a man falsely accused. It can result in additional trauma for a rape victim to have it dismissed over partisan politics.

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