I’ve read and watched the press feeding frenzy around Governor Andrew Cuomo’s alleged sexual misconduct, and I can’t help but wonder where they’re going with this. CNN appears to be having a field day with the issue rather than doing some serious investigative reporting. And they’re not alone. Gratuitous blame press coverage is not what #MeToo is about. It’s not what women want. Besides, sexual misconduct is a spectrum, not a thing.
If Cuomo engaged in forms of sexual misconduct, then by all means weed out the facts, name the types, and let ethics experts and/or the courts decide the price. But let’s not have another rush-to-judgment Al Franken situation.
Jane Mayer’s 2019 New Yorker Magazine article, “The Case of Al Franken,” reports a litany of regret. Here are some examples:
A remarkable number of Franken’s Senate colleagues have regrets about their own roles in his fall. Seven current and former U.S. senators who demanded Franken’s resignation in 2017 told me that they’d been wrong to do so. Such admissions are unusual in an institution whose members rarely concede mistakes. Patrick Leahy, the veteran Democrat from Vermont, said that his decision to seek Franken’s resignation without first getting all the facts was “one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made” in forty-five years in the Senate. Heidi Heitkamp, the former senator from North Dakota, told me, “If there’s one decision I’ve made that I would take back, it’s the decision to call for his resignation. It was made in the heat of the moment, without concern for exactly what this was.” Tammy Duckworth, the junior Democratic senator from Illinois, told me that the Senate Ethics Committee “should have been allowed to move forward.” She said it was important to acknowledge the trauma that Franken’s accusers had gone through, but added, “We needed more facts. That due process didn’t happen is not good for our democracy.” Angus King, the Independent senator from Maine, said that he’d “regretted it ever since” he joined the call for Franken’s resignation. “There’s no excuse for sexual assault,” he said. “But Al deserved more of a process. I don’t denigrate the allegations, but this was the political equivalent of capital punishment.” Senator Jeff Merkley, of Oregon, told me, “This was a rush to judgment that didn’t allow any of us to fully explore what this was about. I took the judgment of my peers rather than independently examining the circumstances. In my heart, I’ve not felt right about it.” Bill Nelson, the former Florida senator, said, “I realized almost right away I’d made a mistake. I felt terrible. I should have stood up for due process to render what it’s supposed to—the truth.” Tom Udall, the senior Democratic senator from New Mexico, said, “I made a mistake. I started having second thoughts shortly after he stepped down. He had the right to be heard by an independent investigative body. I’ve heard from people around my state, and around the country, saying that they think he got railroaded. It doesn’t seem fair. I’m a lawyer. I really believe in due process.
I worry that the media glee that often surrounds accusations aimed at highly visible figures might derail the extraordinary benefits of the #MeToo Movement. There is such a thing as getting to the bottom of sexual misconduct allegations, determining where they are on the spectrum, and deciding what actions should be taken. Let’s use, not lose, our heads here. There’s too much at stake for all involved.
As someone who has experienced and written about sexual harassment and domestic violence, I agree that we need to think carefully before making judgement, especially in today’s media world where there is a constant need for continuous and sensational “news.”
Does this mean that you consider the possibility that Governor Cuomo’s accusers have “overstated” their complaints? After all the great work that he has done for his constituents, he surely deserves a complete and thorough investigation, before we jump to conclusions. I’m not excusing him, just saying that his comments fall somewhere near the bottom of the spectrum you established for sexual harassment.
I was appalled when Franken was pressured to and resigned. The verdict isn’t in yet
on Cuomo and he is steadfast in not resigning even with more sexual misconduct allegations dogpiling up on him from every suspect sources with questionable motives; none any more serious than the allegations on Franken so I’m in complete agreement with you.
It’s just not as plain and simple, cut and dry as “believe the woman.” Believe what?
“That she claims she thought he was hitting on her but he didn’t actually try to coerce her, but she still thinks he was trying to?”
And I have to question what are some people’s motives, sometimes it’s as simple as the mere desire to be in the spotlight and get national attention. These in-depth interviews on TV with these young “victims” seems a bit premature but certainly insightful in getting to the core of what is really going on here — a lot to unpack and it seems vendetta’s are also involved.
“Hey Gov. knock off with the suckin lips — too far man.” This time actually take and complete your HR sensitivity training. ” There. Fixed.
I still remember suspiciously rightwing type women actually rush the stage at Franken townhall meetings yelling at him: “Hey Senator remember me?!! Remember what you did to me?! Yeah well I REMEMBER!!!! a couple right wingers just harassing him and you could tell he knew that he had never seen these women before in his life.
It was astonishing to watch on TV. This is proving to be the same circus, same players, different year.
I remember in 1996? the Republicans foaming at the mouth and shrill in their indignation screaming: “The American people will NEVER stand for Clinton’s adultery!!!” during the Lewinski scandal and the polls showed we were fine with it;
Clinton had a 65% approval, economy was good and the people didn’t give a damn.
Some of this stuff ends up in the courts with people wanting money for their “trauma.”
I’ve been hit on all my life, by both men and women, yeah, me too. I caboshed it. I said real loud: “Stop.” Not to diminish the issue, but I think these allegations are pretty diminished already.