For Immediate Release
Sean Casten’s Hypocritical Silence
“It’s time to end the double standards that exist around sexual harassment.”
April 30, 2020 – During his 2018 campaign, Sean Casten called for an FBI investigation into accusations of sexual harassment against then- Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying “Dr. Blasey Ford showed incredible courage… It’s clear that there must be an FBI Investigation and that the other women who made credible allegations must be allowed to come forward and testify.”
In a second tweet, then-candidate Casten demanded Congressman Peter Roskam clarify his position on the issue, saying “his constituents deserve to know.”
But now that the person accused of sexual assault is Sean Casten’s endorsed candidate for president, Joe Biden, Casten has gone radio silent.
Unlike Blasey-Ford’s, Tara Reade’s allegations are substantiated by witnesses. Why hasn’t Sean Casten demanded an FBI investigation into the allegations against Joe Biden? Why does he think that IL-06 constituents deserved to know where their Congressman was on the issue when Peter Roskam was in office, but not while he’s in office?
“Sean Casen hyped the credibility of every allegation against Judge Kavanaugh,” said Jeanne Ives, Candidate for Congress (IL-06). “Now, Casten’s own party seeks to undermine Tara Reade’s credibility. And he has said nothing.
“Casten’s silence is hypocritical. In his view, Republicans are “guilty until proven innocent.” But Democrats should get the benefit of the doubt. Lip-service and hypocrisy only perpetuate a culture of abuse.
“It’s time to end the double standards that exist around sexual harassment,” Ives continued. “We didn’t know what we didn’t know about Blasey-Ford. We don’t know what we don’t know about Reade. But, at a minimum, he should be calling for an investigation. As a state legislator, when over 300 women signed a letter about sexual harassment and abuse of power in Springfield, I was the first to file legislation that would have put a fair process in place to investigate claims like these – regardless of the complaintant’s political party. I stood up for what was right – regardless of politics – as a state legislator. I will do the same in Congress.”
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For more information or to book Jeanne Ives contact Kathleen Murphy at 630-329-4680 or kathleenemurphy26@gmail.com.
