National Enquirer Story - Could Sarah Palin Threaten Levi Johnson With Statutory Rape Charge?

[Median Democrat]

It takes two to get married, right? Well, one thing that did not make sense is Palin's statement that her daughter is going to marry the baby's father. However, this does not make sense.

First, there is Levi Johnson, whose webpage declares that he does not want to have kids:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/01/levi-johnston-bristol-pal_n_123089.html

/snip

"But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess."

"Ya f - - - with me I'll kick ass," he added.

He also claims to be "in a relationship," but states, "I don't want kids."

/snip

Second, the National Enquirer, which has been hailed as a reliable source of information by the Right Wing since the disclosure of the John Edwards affair, reports:

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/sarah_palin_at_war_with_her_daughter_over_pregnancy_wedding/celebrity/65370

/snip

Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin attempted to quietly have her daughter Bristol get married before news of her pregnancy leaked out, the NATIONAL ENQUIRER is reporting exclusively in its new issue.

Palin planned for the wedding to take place right after the Republican National Convention and then she was going to announce the pregnancy.

But Bristol, 17, refused to go along with the plan and that sparked a mother-daughter showdown over the failed coverup.

/snip

Third, under Alaskan law, here are the rules for statutory rape in the fourth degree:

Sec. 11.41.440. SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR IN THE FOURTH DEGREE.

(a) An offender commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degree if
(1) being under 16 years of age, the offender engages in sexual penetration or sexual contact with a person who is under 13 years of age and at least three years younger than the offender; or
(2) being 18 years of age or older, the offender engages in sexual contact with a person who is 16 or 17 years of age and at least three years younger than the offender, and the offender occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.
(b) Sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Fourth, the reported ages of Levi and Bristol are all over the map. How old is he? How old is she?

So, the question is given Levi's apparent reluctance to settle down and have kids, and possibly Bristol's reluctance, why would they get married? Its one thing if Levi's was talking about pupply love with his girlfriend, but he seems pretty non-committal for a kid who is planning on getting married according to the McCain campaign. Also, it is just odd that Levi is suddenly making the trip out to the RNC.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/palin-keeps-a-low-profile/

/snip

Levi Johnston, the young man whom Ms. Palin has said will marry her daughter Bristol, was on his way to St. Paul from Alaska to attend the convention, the campaign official confirmed. On Monday, Ms. Palin announced that Bristol, 17, is five months pregnant.

/snip

I mean doesn't it take two people to consent to being married? Has he even proposed. It is just seems weird that the McCain campaign is announcing that they are getting married nowithstanding the young man's comments on his webpage.

[the Sundance Kid]

1. why is it so hard to get Bristol's DOB??

it should be simple, but I have looked for days with no luck.

If her Facebook page was correct and she is a Libra, then she has not yet turned 17.

Why would they fudge on her age unless there was a reason?

[Median Democrat]

3. Also, It Is Hard To Get A Clear Answer On Levi's Age Too - AP News

Oddly, the AP appears to be trying to answer some of these issues, which is almost odd in itself:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080902/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_daughter

/snip

Levi Johnston's mother said her 18-year-old son left Alaska on Tuesday morning to join the Palin family at the convention where Sen. John McCain will officially receive the Republican nomination for president. The boy's mother, Sherry Johnston, said there had been no pressure put on her son to marry 17-year-old Bristol Palin and the two teens had made plans to wed before it was known she was pregnant.

* * *

Levi Johnston, a high school hockey player for Wasilla High School, is not listed on the team roster for 2008-2009, and his mother wouldn't say if he graduated. She said simply he's no longer a student and any further information would have to come from him.

/snip

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. I imagine Levi came under quite a bit of pressure once this went national.

And besides that, McCain pulled in a whopping $47 mil last month, and I imagine a couple of mil can buy a lot of igloos for a scared high school hockey player.

[SoCalDemGrrl]

4. That's such a rich image - IGLOOS, love it

:rofl:

[Bush Lies]

5. Birthdates

You can find birthdates for Track, Bristol, Sarah, Todd and Levi Johnston here.

http://courtrecords.alaska.gov/pa/ep.urd/PAMW6500


Just FYI, Sarah and Todd eloped 8/29/88.

[pnwmom]

9. Thanks. And welcome to DU! n/t

[progressivebydesign]

10. Whoa. Nice to see the various infractions those folks have racked up...

my my, there are some very generous new posters here this week! Thanks.

[mzmolly]

6. He's not three years older than Bristol.

(2) being 18 years of age or older, the offender engages in sexual contact with a person who is 16 or 17 years of age and at least three years younger than the offender, and the offender occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.

[LisaL]

7. Age of consent is 16.

I fail to see any possibility of statutory rape charges, considering Bristol is 17.

[Pryderi]

8. I still say Levi should demand a paternity test

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. The Tabloids are doing the dirty work now

on the issues we brought up...........