Honestly, today it feels like the Liberal Party only employs gropers, molesters and rapists. The ABC leads us off:
Three young women have identified themselves to speak out about their allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Frank Zumbo, a senior employee and trusted advisor of embattled MP Craig Kelly.
A former intern at the electorate office alleged Mr Zumbo’s behaviour — including touching, kissing and hugging — occurred when she was 16 years old.
Her allegations against the 53-year-old form part of an ongoing NSW Police investigation as the Department of Finance investigates workplace health and safety concerns for staff in Mr Kelly’s office.
7.30 understands at least six women have made formal police complaints, including former intern Anna Hobson.
I guessed this was coming but that doesn’t make it any easier to read. By my count that is now eleven women alleging various forms of sexual assault inside the Morrison Government or by its staff.
Four Corners added to the ghastly collective confession with a full expose of the material it previously held back against AG Christian Porter:
Fellow debater Jo Dyer said her friend had told her that Mr Porter had walked her back to the college accommodation after a formal dinner.
“[She] told me that they had been out dancing, drinking, partying until late — very late. They were walking back to the university campus. Christian offered to walk [her] back to her college,” she told Four Corners.
In a statement, prepared for her lawyer in 2019 when the woman decided she wanted to pursue the alleged incident, she alleged that Mr Porter raped her that night in her room.
“I was drunk, and I trusted him, so I agreed. I had no real reason then not to. We went up to my room, and I let him inside … What did happen next was a total surprise to me. ”
…Four Corners has been told that she first sought help from a sexual assault counsellor in about 2013 and saw the counsellor about six times.
The counsellor has told Four Corners that she disclosed to her an allegation about a boy she referred to by his first name as Christian, who had been a fellow debater.
More at The Australian:
Hale School headmaster Dean Dell’Oro was responding to claims made by the woman who alleged the Attorney-General raped her in 1988, when as students they travelled to Sydney for a debating competition.
In the unsigned statement she intended to send to police, the Adelaide woman said the “surreal quality” of her memories of the alleged rape led her to “suspect that (Porter) put some sort of date-rape style drug into my drink” while they were at a Kings Cross venue.
Out came Julia Bishop, at The Guardian:
Julie Bishop has criticised how senior Morrison government ministers have handled the sexual assault allegation raised by Brittany Higgins and the historical rape allegation against attorney general Christian Porter.
In a rebuke both to the defence minister, Linda Reynolds, and the skills and employment minister, Michaelia Cash, for their handling of the Higgins complaint, the former deputy Liberal leader told ABC TV she would have felt a “duty” to report an allegation of rape to the police.
Bishop on Monday night also questioned why Morrison and Porter had failed to read a letter and attached statement from a woman accusing the attorney general of raping her in January 1988.
And News:
But when Ms Sales asked Ms Bishop about claims that a group of Liberal MPs called the “swinging dicks” sought to block her progression she quickly corrected her.
“It was actually big swinging dicks,’’ Ms Bishop said.
Of course, one doesn’t need a dick to be one, also at The Australian:
Lawyers representing former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins are insisting Defence Minister Linda Reynolds immediately withdraw her controversial “lying cow” remarks, with negotiations so far unable to reach a resolution.
…It is understood a retraction has not formed any part of a settlement suggested by Senator Reynolds’ legal team, despite demands she take such action and make an unequivocal apology “for the hurt and distress caused”.
So, let’s do an inventory. Eleven separate women are now alleging sexual assault of some kind within the Morrison Government or by its staff. The Attorney General is one of those accused even as he oversees the legal response. Nobody has been fired or brought to account. Three have taken convenient mental health leave. One has been given a golden handshake.
All of this in the name of protecting the “rule of law”.
