Today's the day.
Yesterday afternoon was reserved for closing arguments. But today is for decisions.
Expulsion, censure or nothing. One of those will come out of it.
What's not in dispute? Senator Sutton and Austin Wiese shared a bed. And something happened that caused a question. What that something was is in dispute.
Does the offense rise to the level of ejecting a member. Or should it be a slap on the wrist?
Or nothing at all?
Expulsion, censure or nothing. One of those will come out of it.
What's not in dispute? Senator Sutton and Austin Wiese shared a bed. And something happened that caused a question. What that something was is in dispute.
Does the offense rise to the level of ejecting a member. Or should it be a slap on the wrist?
Or nothing at all?
Comments
As Duffy put it...in referencing our current U.S. Senate President Pro Tempore, Roberty Byrd, "Only two Country's in the World have a Senate, Rome and the U.S." The Senate is a very special body.
The minute he touched me, I'm out. I'll walk to a gas station, sleep in an ATM booth, call a friend to come pick me up, anything other than continue to sleep with the guy. I don't know any reasonable person who would stay. Let alone stay for a second night.
There's no doubt in my mind this is about politics, and nothing more.
The attorneys time line is off. In the case of a criminal when the time line is off that is subject to examine more closely.
I don't think we will ever know what exactly happened. But evidently something did because I can't see a bunch of young people trying to hold together a concocted story through all the interviews and testimoney they have been subjected to.
Whether we all know what really happened is immaterial. The fact is that after all these life changing events for all concerned, they themselves will have to live with the consequences and knowing whether they told the truth or not. I would hate to have to live with knowing I'd lied to such an extent.
Although now we know in a Senate investigation twice and three times removed hearsay (if there is such a thing as well as dream testimony) is allowed. What a circus and all should be ashamed including the panel that they sat through such a farce.
I think this simple phrase probably hit the Senators the hardest. If any of you have spent time in Pierre you have heard stories related to 50% or more of the Senate and some of the committee members that would be cause for a disciplinary hearing.
Look, when you're in a no-win position, do the right thing: Expel Dan Sutton. Teach the politically ambitious a lesson that should not be forgotten.
Austin was 18 at the time of the "alleged" groping. As far as I knew, once you turned 18 you were no longer considered a minor. Don't get me wrong, I am not condoning this type of behaviour in any setting, politically or otherwise. If sharing a bed with someone other than a spouse is grounds for expulsion from the senate, I'm afraid many senators would be watching the procedings from the galley.
PP, as much play as you've given this thing leading up to the hearing, I was surprised you had such little coverage.
Just think of that: an uncorroborated accusation overturns an election, and results in the seat changing party hands. That should scare all of us to death, regardless of political party affiliation.
I think that's enough to make everyone involved in this mess relieved, no matter what the Senate committee decides.
That would take a year of planning. And that wouldn't match up.
Think about the facts people...just like McMahon said. It all adds up.
As to the actual 'thing' that happend, that we will never know, but as far as everything besides that, it was all laid out in details before you.
If your strickly on the wiese or sutton side - don't talk. But if you're in the middle - think long and hard.
But like you said, add up all the stories. I was approached by a male when I was 18, he never touched me, but I have never told my parents to this day 25 years later.
I just hope the liar gets what he deserves, whoever that is.
The Republicans in Congress thought they had the world by the tail when they started their campaign to impeach Bill Clinton for sexually-challenged ethics. Had Larry Flynt a few more months to dig around and more of the window-peepers would have found themselves hoisted on their own petards*
There are no winners in this. A general said that Bush was sending troops to Iraq on a "fools errand".
Schoenbeck and Moore sent the SD Senate on a "fools errand".
Our little scandal on the prairie has been a mess from the onset. Sutton certainly didn't leave the hearing entirely with "clean hands". His actions and statements following the allegation didn't exactly shout I'm innocent: I'm sorry; Did I touch you; If you say I did it, it must be true; Do you want me to get evaluated? (all paraphrased).
For any cynics on the committee, Sutton playing up his catholicism and wanting to go see a priest could cut to the negative.
For a detached observer like myself, Sutton's testimony was remotely plausible, but not likely. And his continued use of "Mr. MacMahon" stood out like a nervous tick.
Equally stinky is Dennis Weise. The timing of his letter to Schoenbeck is a little curious. Months after the alleged fact, it seemed like Weise was both seeking accountability and to derail Sutton's election. D. Weise's decision stifle the matter for months with his own political ambition makes him look as crooked as his own teeth. Yes, I know it was reported right away to Barney Fife of the DCI. After that Weise dines with Sutton, seeks his endorsement (and presumably a contibution), then gives his own endorsement. On the other hand this mess was not his doing, and he couldn't rightly have this hometown and democratic scandal simmering during a campaign. How was he supposed to play it? He should have put a little distance between himself and Sutton, but he couldn't because he needed him politically and that is what stinks.
What are left with? Sutton slept in the same bed with 18 year old page - no question. Some contact occurred between the two during the course of the evening - most likely. This contact was intentional hand-to-man as described by Austin - perhaps, yet inconclusive. The Senate should censure or discipline Sutton for sharing a bed with a page. This can be described as "inappropriate contact" or conduct "unbecoming the office". This also can be done without making a specific finding on the direct hand-to-man contact alleged by Austin.
Keep expulsion off the table bc Dist. 8 elected him despite the allegation, and attempted expulsion will require the SDSC to revisit the matter to rule on the Senate's authority to expel. Lastly some advice to Dan: don't let the neighborhood kids surf gay porn on your computor.
And so, as the sands in the hourglass...
It seems to me that both sides have some pretty serious credibility issues.
Wiese and co. act more like a family motivated by political whims than the family of a victim of sexual assault. People are getting the criminal investiation (began in Feb 06) confused with the Senate investigation (which was without question begun when Wiese contacted Schoenbeck about this issue, most likely only a day or so after he received the suit filed against him by Sutton). They've proven nothing criminally and we're sitting here blogging about this because of those allegations brought to Schoenbeck. Whatever the true story, I have no doubt Dennis Wiese brought this forward as a result of the lawsuit.
Sutton acts more like someone guilty of sexual assault and struggling with sexual identity issues ("I'll talk to the priest") than a totally innocent victim of a conspiracy.
One thing the defense illustrated pretty clearly that hasn't really been noted is that it is unclear whether or not Austin's allegation was originally that Sutton touched his genitals. The witnesses he talked to at first don't recall him saying that, and the DCI transcripts don't indicate that being said.
With the mess this investigation became, I don't see any way the committee could do anything but censure him. There is too much information of wrongdoing not to censure him and there is too much doubt to expel him.
What am I missing? 57% of the vote is a victory, but it’s not a landslide by any stretch of the imagination, especially for an incumbent!
And I’d also like to know where Sutton’s loyalty to District 8 was when he resigned last year, clearly in an attempt to avoid the senate hearings. Why would he abandon his constituents if he was innocent? And didn’t he ever think we were owed an explanation? Why not willingly testify, instead of being forced to in the end?
His supporters also frequently alluded to information that would come out, essentially bombshells that would make us all see the true character of the victim and clear Sutton’s name. Where were they in all this? The only bombshells I saw were a) a recorded phone conversation where Sutton so much as admitted to the crime; b) the revelation that someone, at some point, searched for gay porn on his SENATE-OWNED COMPUTER, and c) the fact that so many of his former friends – all considered to be credible people – would testify that they believed he was guilty.
Folks, if it walks like a duck and acts like a duck, it’s a duck.
With Sustton as well as Clinton, no matter what is or is not significant about the sex issues involved, getting into the situation raises serious doubts about their ability to make rational decisions on other issues as well.
Finding a legislator, lawyer, minister, or even a newspaper man drunk raises the same kind of questions.
BARF! That attitude is repulsive.
I have a better question for you...
Supposing Austin was a girl, would it still be okay for Sutton to have slept in the same bed? Would you believe her allegations more than Austin's?
Put aside the sexism and live in the 21st century.
Ultimately, this is a kid who is pointing his finger.
What is a lapse in judgement? YES
But I'm willing to bet Heidepriem, Knudson and Dempster don't have squeeky clean records either when it comes to their own judgement.
I will be very disappointed in that committee if they punish him at this point.
Has the kid filed charges to take this to court?
If not, this is completely a political move on the Wiese family's part and nothing more.
How could he have orchestrated this whole thing on the level he would have to orchestrate it to get this far? The kid is telling the truth. Apparently teenagers don't act like you might expect when groped - that would be a pretty shocking experience, especially when the contact is from someone you trust. I can buy the going back for another night because of the shock and disbelief much easier than I can buy the allegation that he concocted an elaborate story to frame Sutton.
I feel for Austin Wiese. It's time for the Senate to stand up for him and for all its employees.
No one would have to bring criminal charges, no one would have to prove that ANYTHING happened.
The whole inquest is silly!
He exercised poor judgement and admits that he slept in the same bed with a subordinate, that is enough--he should be expelled!
You missed the point. It wasn't OK then and it isn't now, but that's not why the legislature was holding committee hearings about it. The Senate's investigation of Sen. Sutton took place because former Senators Lee Schoenbeck and Gary Moore made a public fuss about it. Did they do this out of concern for the pages or Sen, Sutton's moral turpitude? I dont't think so. It only came up after the $850,000 lawsuit against Ridgefield Farms (in which Dennis Wiese was involved) filed by a Flandreau development board of which Dan Sutton was the chair. The real problem is that the rules of conduct in our esteemed legislature are currently looser than a goose with the Norwalk virus. And only now are they talking about tightening things up. We should be asking: Why weren't there any rules or guidelines for conduct with pages in place beforehand?
As for your sexism question. I'll answer with a question. What makes you so sure this hasn't happened to female pages?
What I am saying is this: The legislature needs to put their political power mania aside for a while, get their respective houses in order, and then get on with the business we elected them to do.