Latest with Layne: Sexual assault allegations should impact political office

President-elect Donald Trump, Fox News host Pete Hegseth and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) have something in common that is not based on their political affiliation. All three were charged with alleged sexual violence.

Despite their allegations, both Gaetz and Hegseth were recently nominated by Trump for key cabinet positions in the incoming administration. Allegations of sexual violence against high-ranking political officials highlight the notion of releasing survivors and uplifting the accused.

According to Washington Post Office“Gaetz was charged with sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl, violating sex trafficking laws and using illegal drugs.” After being nominated as Trump’s attorney general, Gaetz resigned from the Senate, effectively ending the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into him.

If no further investigation is conducted or if the report is not made public, the allegations being reviewed by the House Ethics Committee and the women who have accused Gaetz of sexual harassment will be completely ignored. While resigning from the Senate eliminates Gaetz’s direct political power, it demonstrates his control throughout the investigation process. Not all defendants have the option to resign knowing that it will end the investigation.

Some NBC News The report states: “A woman told police that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, took her phone and prevented her from leaving his hotel room before sexually assaulting her in 2017 after a women’s convention California Republican Party.” Hegseth, Trump’s defense secretary nominee, was not charged after the investigation, but many remain skeptical.

After his appointment, a police report was released detailing Hegseth’s alleged actions against an unidentified woman, but it did not dent his support base. This reinforces the idea that high social status can protect individuals from harsh reactions and punishment following allegations.

According to Related press“Trump himself has long been accused of harassing or mistreating women, and was once caught bragging about grabbing women by the genitals. A New York court found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation and ultimately ordered him to pay the woman, E. Jean Carroll, $83 million in damages.”

As a controversial political figure, many people who agree with Trump are willing to dismiss survivors, portraying his accusations as political attacks or partisan disputes. His dehumanizing rhetoric about women has gone viral, but he has not lost support.

Supporting or voting for Gaetz, Hegseth or Trump – when the allegations against them are widely known – is a direct reflection of the social norm of firing survivors.

According to National Library of Medicine“One in four women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Although less than 5% of sexual assault cases are reported to law enforcement, one in five cases reported to police are considered unsubstantiated by the police and are therefore coded as “unfounded.”

Because the police and courts have so much power to investigate reports of sexual assault, they have the direct ability to ignore victims through blaming techniques and a general lack of investigation, which leads to the continued dismissal of victims while uplifting the accused.

Survivors deserve to be heard, believed and supported, not minimized and dismissed. Public officials who are under investigation or prosecution should not hold office until the matter is fully investigated and appropriate action is taken.

By believing survivors and their experiences, justice will take precedence over power.

Layne Rey is a journalism student at Ohio University. Please remember that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect the views of the columnist Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by sending her a tweet @laynerey12.