Schumer calls cops after forged sex scandal charge

[octoberlib]

Last edited Tue Dec 12, 2017, 10:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he was the victim of a fake news hit on Tuesday, and has turned over to Capitol Police a document that purports to detail lurid sexual harassment accusations by a former staffer.

The former staffer told me in a phone interview that she did not author the document, that none of the charges ring true, and that her signature was forged.
She said she had never heard of the document before Axios took it to Schumer's office for comment on Tuesday.
Matt House, Schumer's communications director, told me: "The document is a forged document and every allegation is false. We have turned it over to the Capitol Police and asked them to investigate and pursue criminal charges because it is clear the law has been broken."
House continued: "We believe the individual responsible for forging the document should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to prevent other malicious actors from doing the same."
Why it matters: This was an apparent effort to dupe a news organization and smear a senator — both symptoms of an amped-up news environment where harassment charges are proliferating and reporters have become targets for fraud.


https://www.axios.com/schumer-calls-cops-after-forged-sex-scandal-charge-2517019807.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twsocialshare&utm_campaign=organic



Aaaand Cernovich

Link to tweet

Cernovich tweeted then quickly deleted this last night.



:large

[RandomAccess]

1. So, CHUCK -- take another look at the whole Franken thing, wouldja??

[LenaBaby61]

6. So, CHUCK -- take another look at the whole Franken thing, wouldja??

"Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he was the victim of a fake news hit on Tuesday, and has turned over to Capitol Police a document that purports to detail lurid sexual harassment accusations by a former staffer."

Wonder if he'll be resigning?

I mean, he doesn't need the police since you know, you have to accept accusations ONLY.

[mythology]

12. Except nobody has said that

The accusations have been vetted by the media. You may have noticed that this and the James O'Keefe attempts failed because they couldn't be vetted.

[LisaL]

13. Well, as long as it is vetted by the media.

[LenaBaby61]

15. The accusations have been vetted by the media.So

So ALL of the women accusing Franken were vetted by "the media?"

There was due process for Franken?

Gee. Musta missed that.

[JimBeard]

34. I just don't have any joy in the Alabama victory.

Before long they will be accuse people riding in an elevator for farting. This is bullshit.

[sharedvalues]

41. Enjoy tonight. One propaganda goal is to cause depression and thus apathy

Not saying that you're pushing propaganda,

but just remember that a propaganda method used by the right is to come on to places like this and try to bring us down on good nights like tonight. One propaganda goal is to get people depressed so they give up.

So don't echo that, or you're playing into their hands. Be positive tonight!

[JimBeard]

46. No, its all my doing, I really resent the outcome. I don't like Trump or Moore but I don't like the

the ones that fucked over Frankin either. I can hear the extremist on both sides. I am wondering if Jones can win next election in 2020. This is a hollow victory.

[sharedvalues]

48. Be positive tonight! This is a great night! And a HUGE victory

It's all about turnout in 2018. This race and the recent VA race confirms:
America is a Democratic-majority country. Turnout is the key to taking back the country. And we are going to all work for turnout in 2018 - just as we did in AL and VA in 2017.

[MustLoveBeagles]

64. I understand what you're saying but

right now I'll take any victory we can get.

[LenaBaby61]

61. I just don't have any joy in the Alabama victory.

And NOW it appears that Moore wants a recount.

I HOPE the Secretary of State clamps down on this shit.

Are they going to "FIND" the votes they need to beat Jones by December 26th?

thuglicans already STOLE the presidency. Are they trying to steal this win from Jones too?

The law doesn't allow for what Moore's asking. A recount out of the margins of a win, and if the votes hold up, there shouldn't be a recount.

WHY did that so-called tweet of tRump's mention write-in votes in it?

OMFG, what's going on here??????????????????????????????????????

[PatrickforO]

33. That's not what I saw with Franken's accusers.

In fact, I saw revelations coming out that weakened the allegations. Considerably.

But Franken was told to resign.

So...what about Schumer? If we hold him up to the same ZERO TOLERANCE, and completely throw out common sense, common decency and due process, then Schumer needs to resign NOW.

Because we should ALWAYS believe EVERYTHING any woman EVER says about sexual harassment without even checking the facts.

I mean, that really is what I'm seeing. The ends justify the means, and our leadership really wants to begin pressuring Trump over his sexual harassment history. So, heck, SOMEBODY had to be sacrificed, like a big pawn in a game of political chess.

Yeah...I guess I'm still pretty worked up about the Franken railroad-job.

[SergeStorms]

53. I was told that....

there is no "due process" owed to anyone accused of sexual malfeasance. Yeah, I was upbraided for even suggesting such a thing. What a complete dullard I am. It takes all kinds to make a Democracy, I guess.

[Ghost Owl]

44. Who elected the media?

Oh, the media vetted them? Cool. Do you know the vetting practices of CNN, Huffpost, Jezebel, Politico, and The Atlantic? Are they all the same, are they consistent, is there some oversight to make sure the vetting process is being followed? Can we the public see what their vetting practices are? Are all these outlets typically known for their investigative journalism?

Oh but there's also Leanne Tweeden, nobody vetted her story, just repeated what she wrote on her radio station's website.

And what elected office DO these media outlets hold, that they're responsible for deciding to oust elected officials? Oh they don't hold any elected positions, that's right. So then the people we did elect decided to strongarm an elected official out of office based on something they read in the paper, without doing any investigation or corroboration themselves? And this is supposed to be okay?

I love the media, they are hugely important to a functioning democracy, so don't think I'm shitting on them. Democracy really does die in darkness, and we need journalists to shine a light on things unseen. The stories they report can certainly be used as a starting point for congressional investigation, but they should not be used in lieu of a congressional investigation. Kicking out a duly elected representative without even a cursory investigation is a dereliction of their duty, and usurping the will of the voters of Minnesota without due process (by which I mean ANY kind of process; reading disturbing stories in the media is not due process). That is no way to run a democracy.

[sharedvalues]

49. Be positive tonight! And welcome to DU.

[SergeStorms]

50. For your first post....

you hit a home-run! Stick around, we have all sorts of "fun" here.

Welcome to DU, Ghost Owl.

[fleabiscuit]

66. The media didn't kick Al Franken out, he resigned. nt

[Ghost Owl]

69. Because nearly all the Democratic Senators called for his resignation

based on the articles they read in Jezebel, Politico, etc. Not their own independent investigation.

You can't be an effective Senator if your own party turns it's back. Even the Independent Senators still caucus with either the Dems or Republicans. Franken would be effectively useless in crafting and passing legislation (the bulk of what they do), fundraising, pretty much only existing to vote. He didn't want to do that to his constituents, he thought they deserved better, an effective rep, he didn't want to see his state suffer because he was prevented from doing his job. He would not be in this position if his party had waited on the Ethics probe. Hindered somewhat, sure, but not totally useless.

You can't be an island in Congress.

[fleabiscuit]

72. Really?

You think the Democratic Senators based their position on “the articles they read in Jezebel, Politico, etc.?” How did you come to that conclusion? What do you suppose was the most determining article?

[dhol82]

74. Well, gosh - I would love to know the outcome of the ethics investigation that they based

their decision on.
Wouldn’t you?

[Ghost Owl]

78. How do I come to that conclusion?

Because there was NO investigation in Congress. They had opened up a preliminary Ethics probe into Franken, but it hadn't had time to do anything. What else could they have based it on but what they've read in the paper? None of the accusers went to Congress, testified under oath, told their story to the Senators themselves. His staff was pretty much universally standing behind him, and there's no indication there were any internal complaints about him from staffers.

I can't just assume there was some secret probe that proved damning evidence. The Senators themselves have said their decision was based on the accusations (which again, weren't made to them, were only made to the media organizations), and if they heard of one more, they were going to turn their backs on Franken. And then whoa, wouldn't you know it, another anonymous accusation appears (with the classic, natural sounding line of "It's my right as an entertainer&quot along with the Waist-Grope Lady. Franken strongly denied the last claim, something he hadn't done with previous claims, which had more of a soft denial or partial admittance of fault in Tweedon's case. And the Senators immediately turn their backs. You think they had time to privately vet that last claim in the mere hours it was out there?

[fleabiscuit]

83. I suppose it's always best not to believe accusers and drag them through investigations.

Especially an investigation that is arranged within one's own club. That gives everyone a chance to abuse victoms again, perhaps even on the TV. Fun for all, and fun to advocate within anonymity.

[Ghost Owl]

85. You can question the accusers without abusing them

That's a bit of a strawman you just offered there.

Three of his accusers already went public with their names and stories. If they're comfortable enough to talk to the media, I would imagine they could talk to Senators. A couple of his accusers have already spoken about how they're not happy with the outcome as it stands (Menz and Tweedon; Tweedon seems to be saying she doesn't think Franken should have been kicked out, and Menz not happy with the lack of resolute answers, that everything was left up in the air). His accusers will never have their day in court (so to speak), they're always going to have the specter of suspicion around their necks (because YES, the involvement of Roger Stone, Mike Cernovich, and Chuck Johnson creates an air of suspicion over the whole thing, which is really not fair to the accusers), and that's not fair to them.

It is a huge thing to remove an elected official from office. As a huge thing, it demands a substantial burden of proof. It should not happen without an investigation, even if that involves some upset to those involved.

We need to get away from the notion that its always inappropriate to ask questions to accusers, to investigate their accusations. If your sister or your friend tells you they've been assaulted, then yeah, don't interrogate them. You shouldn't automatically disbelieve anyone who has a story about sexual abuse/harassment, that shouldn't be the default. But people who are in anyway in charge of justice or the law (which the Senate is) has an obligation to investigate, just like the police do. It can be done in a way that minimizes discomfort of the accusers. But it's insulting to victims to think they're incapable of telling their story (sometimes they are, but sometimes they aren't; and there are ways to talk to the severely traumatized to encourage them to talk without furthering their trauma).

I also never said I don't believe his accusers. I find their stories mostly credible (with the exception of the waist-grope lady). And I think credible accusations deserve the respect of an investigation. I also find Franken's denials credible, and the testimony of his staff credible. Credible doesn't mean true, it means 'believable'.

Most victims of sexual abuse or harassment want accusations investigated and corroborated (in a respectful manner), because all it takes is for one rare false accusation to be proven to be false to set everything back ten steps, for it to be used as justification to doubt all accusations. Just think of what could have happened if WaPo had not investigated that Veritas plant with the fake Roy Moore story. Or if the recent false allegations against Chuck Schumer or Richard Blumenthal weren't looked at.

I remember swiftboating. I remember what happened to John McCain in South Carolina in 2000. I remember what *just* happened with Senator Menendez and the women who were paid to say he solicited underage prostitutes. I am not saying Franken's accusers are all liars, or that Franken is for sure innocent of any malice aforethought in his actions. I am saying this deserved an investigation. For the benefit of the accusers, for future accusers of any Congressman/woman, for Franken, for #MeToo, for the voters of Minnesota.

[fleabiscuit]

86. Or the right thing can be done, and we just move along with the peoples' business. nt

[Ghost Owl]

89. Since when is not the people's buisness to make sure justice is served

and the integrity of our democracy is protected from those who would seek to sabotage it?

Since when is it not the people's business to make sure there is an actual process set up to address sexual abuse and harassment accusations, that we actually deal with the issue?

Since when is it not the people's business to make sure sexual assault victims aren't harmed by the likes of Project Veritas, Mike Cernovich, or Charles C Johnson planting false claims to discredit people?

Since when is it not the people's business to ensure that our elected officials aren't removed from office without an investigation?

This didn't even happen a week ago. Chuck Schumer just got a false claim last night (and some of those involved in that false accusation were also involved in the Franken scandal), this is clearly a current event we need to address and deal with.

[fleabiscuit]

90. It was his decision. Justice was served. Even if no one else likes it. nt

[Ghost Owl]

93. There was no justice, only optics.

You can't have justice with no investigation of the facts, no attempt to corroborate the claims made. Justice requires truth, and to get to the truth you have to do a least a *little* investigating/corroborating/questioning. If it is your responsibility to investigate accusations, you do the accusers no service by refusing to investigate them. Think of the awful ramifications that would have resulted from the WaPo not actually investigating that fake Moore accuser. Or what would have happened if WaPo had not heavily investigated the claims they unearthed about Moore in their initial story.

Franken's accusers were mostly credible. Franken was also mostly credible. Credible doesn't mean true, it just means believable. If you have two contradicting but believable stories, you need to suss out the truth.

"Resign, or your constituents/projects will suffer (because we won't work with you)" yep, that sure sounds like his decision he was totally not strongarmed into. Our Congress doesn't work if it's filled with lone wolves, it's designed to only function if people work together. If Dems won't work with Franken, neither will the Republicans, because what's the point?

Franken was faced with two options: "Stay, be a pariah, possibly be expelled, all while harming the people you were trying to help" or "Leave". That's not an option for anyone genuinely dedicated to public service. He hand was forced. That's not an opinion, it's just the truth. You may not like it, but that doesn't make it not true.

[Nevernose]

54. Not true

They were vetted by a blogger at Jezebel with a well-documented history of falling for — and defending — rape hoaxers like the UVA case.

Other anonymous accusers were “vetted” by the re-blogging site Huffington Post. The corroboration was “I didn’t see anything personally, but Al Franken looked at my boobs that night, so he must be a sexual predator.”

The scammers were unable to fool REPUTABLE media. They didn’t go to WaPo or NYT. They went to Jezebel, which is a fun enough site, but hardly reliable to put an honorable senator’s career on.

WaPo investigated Roy Moore’s accusations for six months before publication. They approached the victims. They did not just repost the anonymous accusations emailed to them by someone who met Al Franken at a party ten years ago.

The “reputable” media eventually jumped headfirst into the Franken feeding frenzy, like repeating breathless accounts of how he put his hands around a woman’s waist during a photo op and she felt uncomfortable because she felt fat (which she actually said on CNN).

Much there are degrees of sexual harassment and predation, there are degrees of quality of vetting.

[JimBeard]

31. They said you messed with them sexually, no excuses, don't let the door

hit you in the ass

[ananda]

92. By the standards applied to Franken ...

Schumer must resign,

[Gabi Hayes]

2. LBJ once said something along the lines of, "All you have to do is make the charge..."

''.....and watch em try to deny it.''

It's what they do

Pizzagate, anyone?

[octoberlib]

7. Exactly.

[Gabi Hayes]

8. wish I'd seen the other posts on this.....they were much more germane.

how does it feel, chuckster?

wonder if Al gave him a call, asking him to join him on the resignation wagon

[octoberlib]

9. I updated OP with new info.

[Gabi Hayes]

14. thx! On the Media had that vile prick Cernovich on last night, and tore him apart, to the

point he hung up, when confronted with his own words, along with recordings of some of the vile shit he's spewed, while reminding the audience that he pled down from a rape charge to assault or battery or something

how is this monster not in jail, or being sued by myriad victims of his libel/slander??????

can't believe he's not spending the rest of his money/life on lawyers/in court

[treestar]

81. Yes, that is a frustrating thing about people

They give to much power to someone willing to say anything. And never look at the motives.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. Yeah, Sen. Schumer, we wouldn't want any innocent senators being smeared...

[Gidney N Cloyd]

67. I'm honestly not sure how this connects to my post. nt

[bluestarone]

4. if true

charge should be felony assault!!

[CentralMass]

5. He must resign - there is no time to review the facts.

[LisaL]

11. Absolutely. I hope he does so promptly.

[JimBeard]

36. Pile his shit in the back of his 58 GMC truck and go down the road Chuckie!

[suegeo]

51. Is there any news? Has Schumer resigned yet?

Did I miss the press conference held by the Jr. Senator from New York calling on him to resign? Can someone provide a link to C-Span when the feed begins?

Will the Jr. Senator hold the press conference on the steps of the capitol?

Please feed us cube rats!

[LisaL]

10. Clearly he must resign immediately.

[R B Garr]

79. Yes, absolutely he must resign. An accusation comes in, and

that's that.

It will be interesting to see who will replace him.

[dflprincess]

16. Why hasn't Gillibrand called for his resignation? nt

[suegeo]

56. We need to seize the high moral ground! Now is the time!

I hope when the Junior Senator from NY calls for Schumer's resignation, it is in a press conference in front of a lot of media in front of the Lincoln Memorial!

It shouldn't be in an intimate one-on-one interview. No way. Press conference baby.

This strategy (chess moves!) will show the white working class in coal country, who could really be won over if we just try hard enough, that Democrats are the better choice! What could go wrong!

[Mme. Defarge]

17. Crucify him!

Hey, this whole “mob rule” thing kinda comes back to you, “like riding a bicycle”, n’est-ce pas?

[bucolic_frolic]

18. Somebody's in a heap of trouble for generating Fake News!!

It's always been a fight for credibility with Trump. Not saying he was involved, but minions are learning all along.

This evil game that destroys logic, facts, math, accounting, science - must END!

[JimBeard]

37. I am looking forward to more Trump Tweets to Gillibrand

[SergeStorms]

47. I'm not.

I want my country back. I want sanity to return. I'm getting old, and I can't take much more of this bullshit.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

60. Me too!!!

[orangecrush]

19. hope the author goes to jail

for a long time.

[LisaL]

20. People who make false accusations to police rarely end up in jail.

What is the crime of making false accusations to a reporter? It's not under oath.

[Amaryllis]

22. Defamation, libel.

[LisaL]

23. That's civil, not criminal.

[Amaryllis]

21. WHat a shock that trumped up charges would start to happen. None of us could have possibly

predicted that when it was so easy to take out Franken.

[LisaL]

24. Exactly.

[PatrickforO]

30. This is the first fruits of ZERO TOLERANCE.

A stupid policy that throws out the baby with the bathwater.

No common sense, no discretion, no decency, due process or just outcome!

Just.....

ZERO TOLERANCE

[treestar]

82. I wondered who would be next

and now we know.

[Mme. Defarge]

25. I BELIEVE HIS ACCUSERS!!!

J’ACCUSE!

No matter who they are or what they have to say, they must believed without question and there must be consequences!

So, Chuck, resign already. Hey, what’s good for the goose...

[SergeStorms]

43. Whew........

I'm glad you said that, because if I had said it I'd be in an intensive care ward right now. I've hinted at the same thing you stated, and got jumped on like you wouldn't believe. I don't know why some people are so averse to finding out the truth before passing judgement.

[Mme. Defarge]

45. Courage, mon brave.

[BamaRefugee]

26. why go to all the trouble of forgery, etc?

Just phone in the accusations anonymously, and Gillibrand has Chuck walking the plank before the Jones/Moore race has been declared.

Keep.It.Simple.Stupid.

[JimBeard]

38. Very Good

[MoonRiver]

75. Cause then she would be promoted to SENIOR Senator from NY!

Brilliant!

[BamaRefugee]

84. Brilliant indeed. She's 2 steps ahead of the game!

[MoonRiver]

87. Yep. Well played Kirsten!

[lunasun]

27. Wait a second ....

[LisaL]

28. By the way senator Blumenthal was also accused by what appears to be a bot.

Is anybody noticing a pattern?

http://fox61.com/2017/11/17/blumenthals-office-investigating-twitter-bot-claiming-sexual-assault/

[kcr]

35. They should be calling Franken back and apologizing profusely

All of a sudden they realize they're investigating the false claims. Of course!

[PatrickforO]

29. So....since we're in a ZERO TOLERANCE environment,

Schumer's got to go! C'mon, guys...start calling for him to resign!

[suegeo]

65. I join you,

Hey Hey Ho Ho
Chuck Schumer has got to go

Women need to be heard and believed!
There is no accusation that needs to be vetted in this time of post Russian interference and post Republican party dirty tricks. Accusations are enough to cause the most harsh punishment to be given. There can be no doubt.

[dchill]

32. So, Chuck, Hertz Donut?

[suegeo]

39. Who could have foreseen this unfortunate incident?

Russia meddles in the 2016 election and tough sanctions were ordered and implemented. All interference ends! So There's no way the Russians could be behind this skulduggery. Not a chance.

So too, republicans, great patriots, reached out across the aisle to address AND END ONCE AND FOR ALL the interference, surely they are above reproach! Don't look to them as the culprits of this affront! Voter id solved the epidemic of voter fraud in this country, an issue championed by the grand old party! Garland was given a hearing, what's the beef?

Trump gave us his tax returns, so no executive branch involvement. Impeachment is off the table!

Take the high road, chuck, thank the republicans for their efforts. It will allow the democrats to regain some much needed moral standing with the gop, the party of family values. Plus it will win us votes!

I wonder if we will ever solve this mystery?

[SergeStorms]

40. Gotta' deflect attention away from Trump's massive failure in Alabama.

I'm glad it's not working.

[Denzil_DC]

42. Add this to your collection of Tweets

[octoberlib]

58. Oh , wow. Thanks for posting!

[democratisphere]

52. The very same has happened to Franken.

[Egnever]

57. Hmmmm.

is this how they turn their decision around?

[Honeycombe8]

59. He MUST resign! No whiff of scandal! Zero tolerance! He must be sacrificed!

[LisaL]

63. I am all for it.

Even if whoever accusing him isn't really his former staffer.

[R B Garr]

80. Exactly. It's a done deal. No questions asked.

Shouldn't take too long to name a replacement.

[suegeo]

88. Plus it's a safe seat!

And luckily his replacement will be named by the governor. Who will get time to hone her chops with great advice from Gillibrand.

Then in a special election, she will surely win, giving us the seat for years to come.

In this post-russian tomfoolery era, thank God we addressed that btw, there's ZERO chance Putin will try his dirty stunts again

It's just not true that there are Russian puppets in the oval office & peppered through out the republican party.
Lightly peppered just like the guy Cheney shot. So there's no chance they might trick us out of the seat

[JI7]

62. This is why Franken's Accusations MUST be INvestigated. Even if he still Steps down.

[ProudLib72]

68. I AM SHOCKED!

Who would think of such a thing? And almost immediately after breitbart accidentally posted their "file a fake accusation" document!

[Initech]

70. I told you - they have turned #MeToo into a weapon!

Who cares about debates? All they need to do is pay a few witnesses, doctor a few photographs and boom - they can smear anyone they want.

Oh and fuck Cernovich - if you were to look up the word "tool" in the dictionary, you would see his picture.

[eleny]

71. let it be a lesson if you're man enough, chuck

[standingtall]

73. clearly he must resign

all female accusers are to be automatically believed and any deviation from that thought is now considered to be anathema. I will expect the same if and when accusations are made against Corey Booker,Tom Perez,Keith Ellison,Bernie Sanders etc.

[JimBeard]

77. All our Senators that are telling our own to go need to have their pea brains refreshed

https://www.270towin.com/2018-senate-election/

There's 34 seats up for election. Of the 34 seats 25 are held by Democrats and 9 by republicans.

Its a lot of defending for the Democrats and almost all extreme dark states to defend

It will be best to look at the map.......

https://www.270towin.com/2018-senate-election/

Republicans aren't going to help us with these.

Wake up Chuckie and quit smelling Kristen's arm pits.

[LiberalFighter]

91. Roger Stone?

[Vinca]

94. Someone needs a few days in the big house and a big dent in their bank account.

This doesn't surprise me at all. They got Franken, why not go for the big enchilada.