There is no question that sexually assaulting teenage girls is a far, far worse offense than groping adult women. This diary is not about that. This diary is about the existing evidence to support the claims that Moore sexually assaulted teenage girls and Al Franken groped adult women. Judging by the diaries and comments, almost all here have accepted the evidence that Moore is a predatory pedophile while many reject the allegation that Franken is a serial groper. To be clear, based on the existing evidence, I believe that Moore is a pedophile and Franken is a serial groper—and that the evidence is similarly strong for both.
When looking at past sexual misconduct, we are typically looking at a few things. First, we need to demonstrate that the two people were actually in contact. Second, we need to demonstrate that the alleged events actually occurred. The latter is usually fairly difficult, since we usually don’t have photographs of the events. So, journalists usually search for people who the accuser told—at the time—of the abuse. That is, lacking clear evidence or the admission of guilt by the accused, journalists rely on contemporary corroboration to evaluate the accusations. It was precisely this form of evidence that made the original Washington Post article detailing Moore’s predatory pedophilia so devastating. I think it is fair to say that nobody here doubted that Moore was a pedophile after reading the Washington Post’s original article, and the subsequent revelations, only strengthened the case. Which makes it all the more troubling that so many are dismissing the allegations against Franken, since a simple comparison shows the evidence against Franken is of roughly the same quality, if not even stronger. So, lets review the evidence that has accumulated over the last couple of weeks.
The Evidence Roy Moore is a Serial Pedophile
Accusers
#1 Leigh Corfman—Allegation: Two encounters when Corfman was 14, sexual assault in second encounter. Corroborating Evidence: Mother present at initial meeting at courthouse (court records confirm mother at court house at the time), told two friends about the incident at the time.
#2 Gloria Thacker Deason—Allegation: Went on several dates with Moore when 18. Corroborating Evidence: None provided in original Washington Post article.
#3 Wendy Miller—Allegations: Moore asked Miller on a date when Miller was 16. Corroborating Evidence: Mother confirms Moore asking Miller on date and prohibiting it.
#4 Debbie Wesson Gibson—Allegation: Dated for a few months when Gibson was 17. Corroborating Evidence: None provided in original Washington Post article.
#5 Beverly Young Nelson—Allegation: Offered to drive her home, sexually assaulted her in his car when Nelson was 16. Corroborating Evidence: Yearbook signed by Moore
#6 Gena Richardson—Allegation: 1 date and forceful kiss when Richardson was 17. Corroborating Evidence: Told friend at the time.
General Evidence: Moore was known at the local mall as preying on teenage girls, maybe banned from the mall.
Weird thing Moore has said: When asked by Hannity of he dated teenagers, Moore replied “Not generally, no.”
The Evidence that Al Franken is a Serial Groper
Accusers:
#1 Leeann Tweedon—Allegation: Forcible kiss and breast groping. Corroborating Evidence: A photograph of the breast groping (or near breast groping) of which Franken has said “As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn’t. I shouldn’t have done it.” In regard to the forcible kiss, Franken has said “I certainly don’t remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann.”
#2 Lindsay Menz—Allegation: Franken groped Menz’s butt while having a photo taken with her. Corroborating Evidence: The photo of the two together (not showing the groping), told husband, father, mother immediately, posted picture at the time to Facebook and after question from sister wrote "Dude -- Al Franken TOTALLY molested me! Creeper!"
#3 Anonymous—Allegation: Groped butt during a photo. Corroborating Evidence: Told fellow choir member and best friend.
#4 Anonymous—Allegation: Groped Butt during photo, then invited victim to join him in the bathroom. Corroborating Evidence: Told “several” women at the time, as well as Zachary Roth, one of the authors of the article.
Weird Statement By Franken: “I can categorically say that I did not proposition anyone to join me in any bathroom.” As for the allegations that he touched the women, the Minnesota lawmaker said it was “difficult to respond to anonymous accusers, and I don’t remember those campaign events.”
Overall, Moore has 6 accusers, two with no corroborating evidence, one with yearbook signed by him. Moore has also admitted he dated teenagers by saying he did not date them “generally.” In comparison, Franken has 4 accusers, all with corroborating evidence, two with photographic evidence establishing they were together, one with photographic evidence of groping (or near groping) that Franken has admitted doing and said was inappropriate. Likewise, I find it odd that Franken doesn’t remember the groping the last 3 accusers, but is clearly certain he never asked the 4th accuser to go with him to the bathroom. He doesn’t deny—doesn’t remember—groping incidents, but is sure he never took it any further. That’s kinda….weird.
Comparing the two cases, the quality of the evidence looks fairly similar to me, with the photographs by Tweedon and Menz—perhaps—making the case against Franken even stronger than the one against Moore. The potential benefits of the additional photographic evidence is balanced against the fact that two of Franken’s accusers are anonymous. Again, I am not saying that groping adult women is worse or the same as pedophilia, it isn’t. I am only talking about the evidence, the sourcing, for the stories we have about Franken and Moore—and comparing the evidence, the sourcing looks fairly similar to me.
I bring this up now because far too many on Daily Kos are dismissing the allegations against Franken based not on the evidence, but rather because he is one of us. Frankly, it disgusts me. The 600+ rec diary of a few days ago that declared the diarist stood with Franken and did not believe the—at the time—two accusers was a blemish on this site. As I write this, a diary about the Birtherism of Franken’s first accuser still sits on the rec list while the two diaries that first addressed the addition two more accusers against Franken slid off the rec list last night. Meanwhile, amateur forensic photoshoppers engage in CT about time stamps and metadata. The actions of a woman on-stage are used to justify the groping (or near groping) of the same woman off-stage.
More than anything I write this because the last two of Franken’s accusers chose to remain anonymous because they feared for the harassment and hell they would face if they named themselves. Based on what I have seen posted on Daily Kos, what I have seen heavily recommended by others on Daily Kos, these two most recent accusers are right to stay anonymous—because people here and elsewhere will rip them to shreds.