Jim Gibbons was the Republican governor of Nevada when he was accused of assaulting a cocktail server as she went to her car. She ran from the parking garage to a nearby hotel where she called 911 when it happened and was clearly in distress. He claimed he was merely helping her when she tripped walking to her car.
The sheriff, a fellow Republican, was clearly on his side and did not open an investigation until the media attention forced him to act. There was a videotape but it didn’t even show cars in the garage so was likely doctored. There was also a witness who said she saw an encounter that fit the woman’s story but she didn’t see them clearly enough to identify the people. The Republicans and the media made much of her occupation as a cocktail waitress as though that made attempted rape okay.
The Republican political class closed ranks and accused her of working for Gibbons’s opponent and smeared her reputation to the point she had to move because she could not find work. Finally, she filed a suit against Gibbons and he settled. It’s interesting that some write that she settled when she was the one who filed suit, while both parties settle, most of the time it’s presented as the one at fault settling.
- Las Vegas Sun: New Details Emerge in Suit Against Gibbons
- Nevada Appeal: Ex-Cocktail Waitress Settles rape-threat lawsuit against former Gov. Jim Gibbons
- In These Times: Investigation of alleged assault by GOP Gov candidate Gibbons Suspiciously Inept
15 Oct 2008