Sexual misconduct charges have run amok and seem to be at an all-time high. When is such behavior going too far, and when is the reporting of it overkill?
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In only a matter of 1 week, sexual misconduct charges have been levied against 3 additional high-profile males: CBS Morning News anchor Charlie Rose, Democratic Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, and Democratic congressman and civil rights icon Rep. John Conyers of Michigan.
On Sunday, Rep. Conyers stepped down as ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee after Congress launched an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations brought against him by several former staffers.
“After careful consideration and in light of the attention drawn by recent allegations made against me, I have notified the Democratic Leader of my request to step aside as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee during the investigation of these matters,” Conyers said in a statement Sunday while making clear he has no intention of resigning from Congress. “I deny these allegations, many of which were raised by documents reportedly paid for by a partisan alt-right blogger,” his statement continued. “I very much look forward to vindicating myself and my family before the House Committee on Ethics.”
Sen. Franken will return to the Senate on Monday after several women said he touched them inappropriately.
“I’m embarrassed and ashamed. I’ve let a lot of people down, and I’m hoping I can make it up to them and gradually regain their trust,” the former comedian and “Saturday Night Live” regular said on Sunday. “I don’t remember these photographs, I don’t,” Franken said of the photos where he (supposedly in jest) appeared to be groping or inappropriately touching women. “The Ethics Committee is looking into all of this, and I will cooperate fully with it. I know I have a lot of work to do to regain the trust of people I’ve let down,” he added.
Noted journalist Charlie Rose was fired as co-host of “CBS This Morning” after 8 women came forward in the past week claiming he made unwanted sexual advances toward them, including lewd phone calls, walking around naked in their presence, and groping their breasts, buttocks and/or genital areas.
The women were either employees or aspired to work for Rose at the “Charlie Rose” show between the late 1990s to 2011, and ranged in age from 21 to 37 at the time.
“In my 45 years in journalism, I have prided myself on being an advocate for the careers of the women with whom I have worked,” Rose said in a recent statement. “Nevertheless, in the past few days, claims have been made about my behavior toward some former female colleagues. It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed. I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken.
“I have learned a great deal as a result of these events, and I hope others will too,” he continued. “All of us, including me, are coming to a newer and deeper recognition of the pain caused by conduct in the past, and have come to a profound new respect for women and their lives.”
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As in almost every previous case before them, 2 of these 3 men have acknowledged crossing a line with their behavior but believed their acts were consensual. Only Rep. Conyers has completely denied the allegations. Additionally, all of the sexual misconduct charges are mostly from decades ago, meaning the statute of limitations for a legal remedy has long since expired. However, the court of public opinion is open for business and has already tried and convicted each of the men based solely on accusations.
Is this right?
There was once a time when a white woman could yell “rape” against a black man and have him hanged by the townspeople within the hour. Could this same mentality be happening all over again to some extent?
We’ve all already made judgment calls against Sen. Franken, Rep. Conyers, Charlie Rose, and all the others. If we heard it or we read it, then to us, they are already GUILTY. However, what IF they are not guilty? What IF some or maybe all of these stories are overblown or flat-out untrue? Have we ruined the lives and careers of these public figures exclusively from the individual words of a few women or a few comedic photos that might have been misconstrued?
Granted, if any man OR woman has physically crossed the line of sexual misconduct, he or she must be held accountable and pay the consequences. However, how far is “too far?” When is playfulness unacceptable? Should we continue to metaphorically “hang” every male solely based on “her word against his,” or should we honor the American tradition of “innocent until proven guilty” before tearing someone down?
Have we already gone too far — or have we not yet gone far enough?
This is a bit of a “touchy” one for me but I am grateful to DJ for initiating a discussion about it because it IS a very serious discussion worth having. Let me start by first saying this. Over the years I’ve had to “fight the good fight” at times resisting the urge to Hate the male predator who robbed me of my *innocence* – and so much more- when I was a young child. Thankfully the stress and strain of it all never took me under. But still, I am painfully aware that what he took from me can NEVER be replaced. As a “survivor” of sexual assault I know first-hand the incalculable challenges one can face on any given day, at any given time, for the rest of one’s life. I understand why many survivors keep that HORRIFIC ordeal a secret FOR Years before revealing the truth –… Read more »