I care more about the taxpayer's right to know than the congressman's well-being. If he wants to handle the matter entirely on his own (meaning he's paying for his own defense and funding the settlement with personal funds, not taxpayer or campaign funds), then I don't have a problem with him negotiating a confidentiality clause. At that point, he's a private citizen and can do what he wants. However, if the United States is a defendant or is putting up the money to defend the congressman or to pay off the plaintiff, then the taxpayer has a right to know why that money is being spent. If that means having to explain paying off a nuisance value settlement, then so be it.
This is true, and yes, it sucks. I can't count the number of times that I've heard Al Franken defended on the basis that he admitted to the allegations (and therefore is showing sincere contrition) but that Roy Moore was terrible because he denied them. (Of course, during the Slick Willie days, his denials were hailed as righteous justifications to distrust and personally attack his accusers.) The idea that Moore might be denying the allegations because they're actually not true isn't even taken seriously as a possible scenario. Contrast that with Rep. James Clyburn (D-South Carolina), who refuses to call for Conyers' resignation because he says you can't jump to conclusions about allegations, because they could be made-up. Link. He's right, of course, but couldn't that same thing be said about Roy Moore as well? If someone took the Clyburn approach to Moore's situation, would that person be taken seriously? No.
Personally, I think Moore did do what Leigh Corfman says he did. However, I don't know that for sure. Only Corfman and Moore know that. If he actually didn't do what she claims, should he admit it? I don't think he should. And if he had, would he be getting the Al Franken treatment - meaning being hailed as a decent guy showing contrition for what he did? No chance in hell. He'd be called "admitted pedophile Roy Moore."
Last edited: Nov 23, 2017