Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumIn 2014 Deval Patrick fired leaders of his state's Sex Offender Registry for trying to force his...
In 2019, that same rapist was sentenced to 6 years for another rape. 1/
Link to tweet
In 2014 Deval Patrick fired leaders of his state's Sex Offender Registry for trying to force his brother in law to register due to being convicted of rape in California in 1993.
In 2019, that same rapist was sentenced to 6 years for another rape. 1/
The victim in the most recent rape said that she came home and found Patrick's brother in law hiding in the closet. He stalking, kidnapped, and raped her. She said that she hoped for a long sentence because she would spend her life in fear if he was out.
But Patrick didn't want his family member to register as a sex offender. It was a "family matter", and thus only "marital" rape. Deval fired the head of the state bureau who tried to require registration. 10 years before the rapist's latest conviction.
This is disqualifying.
I have known Deval a long time. We clerked for the same judge. I admired him for many years. But his conduct in this matter is reprehensible and fails to respect women and survivors.
Rape is rape. It doesn't matter if the offender is married to the victim.
Indeed, so-called "marital rape" should be treated as if it is more serious, not less, given the betrayal of trust involved. In addition, it is likely to result in the murder of the victim given what we know of spousal abuse.
Rape is rape. Even if your brother in law does it.
It gives me no joy to come out against my Judge's favorite clerk. But the facts are the facts Deval. You shouldn't have gone after the registry officials. In fact, you should have stayed as far away from them as you could get given your personal issues.
Women deserve better.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
madaboutharry
(40,209 posts)I am supporting Pete Buttigieg, but if I were an undecided voter this information would prevent me from taking even a first look.
He is not responsible for his brother-in-law's behavior, but he is responsible for his own. Interfering with protocol, firing someone tasked with following protocol, and trying to protect a family member from the consequences of criminal behavior demonstrates a lack of character. And that is true even if Barack Obama is your friend.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
50 Shades Of Blue
(9,983 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
50 Shades Of Blue
(9,983 posts)If this doesn't sink him right out of the gate, I don't know what would!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
50 Shades Of Blue
(9,983 posts)Voted for him for VP twice.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,325 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)I await your reply! I would vote for your candidate too.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,325 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)I was waiting for...'this is disqualifying'
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
nycbos
(6,034 posts)This is extremely disappointing.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dware
(12,369 posts)How could it not come out?
Yeah, this is disqualifying.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
smb
(3,471 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dware
(12,369 posts)then he's a fool to boot and double disqualified.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
nycbos
(6,034 posts)In todays world everything comes out, including insignificant details about what their preferred lunch order is.
Either way it is disqualifying.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)the story is more complicated than the tweet in the OP suggests.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dware
(12,369 posts)you're correct, it's something he'll have to address if he wants to survive the primaries.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ritapria
(1,812 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
evertonfc
(1,713 posts)fellow Democrats. Par for course. Democrats are notorious for eating thier own. So be it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
demmiblue
(36,841 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dware
(12,369 posts)Isn't that what repigs are doing right now with the Criminal in Chief?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BeyondGeography
(39,370 posts)Get used to it.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BeyondGeography
(39,370 posts)My favorite pastime is not with fellow Democrats.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)vote for any nominee that emerges.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,757 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Then I became an adult, and realized "time to grow up..."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mudpuddle
(42 posts)They are obviously circumventing the anal exam of the primary process!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
FloridaBlues
(4,008 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Jewls2
(218 posts)Bold to get in the way of a BIL being put on list, with firings. Yesterday I was reading up on Deval to find out what kind of politician he is and today I hear this.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
smb
(3,471 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)And he would love that the horse is white. Err, maybe a blond horse would satisfy him more.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)Or position with any real authority. What a terrible, terrible story.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sop
(10,167 posts)now this?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Saviolo
(3,282 posts)Link to tweet
?s=09
@TheOnion
DNC Leaders Bury Heads In Hands After New Moderate Presidential Recruit Immediately Walks Into Oncoming Traffic https://trib.al/JYB3c0c
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Among other things, the official wasn't fired for "questioning" the decision not to have him register but because she illegally pressured the hearing officer to change his ruling that the law did not require him to register, and retaliated against him when he refused - and engaged in similar conduct in other cases.
But Edwards, Holmes, and other top officials at the board pressured Paglia to reverse his decision, according to the governor and to a lawsuit Paglia filed in December 2008, alleging improper interference in the case and others.
In his lawsuit, Paglia alleged that board officials sent him a revised ruling that concluded that Sigh was obligated to register and asked Paglia to sign it.
Paglia refused and then began to receive unprecedented criticisms of other pending decisions he had drafted as well as poor performance reviews, according to his lawsuit. He left work on a medical leave in June 2008, citing emotional distress and anxiety, and resigned six months later.
Paglia settled his lawsuit for $60,000 this April, a month before the case was set to go to trial...
The system was rigged, Paglia's attorney said. When they didnt like the decisions that would come down, they would order them changed.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/09/22/governor-patrick-says-sex-offender-officials-were-removed-for-mishandling-his-brother-law-case/gzVgQJcuHWBzlWyrQawXhO/story.html?_sp=311e28ee-22aa-4516-8a52-cd89bfef706e.1573757906450&hootPostID=6c8570ab97cfe7879ff18c1acccfa9ea&_sp=311e28ee-22aa-4516-8a52-cd89bfef706e.1573757906450&hootPostID=6c8570ab97cfe7879ff18c1acccfa9ea
This was all known in 2006 before Patrick was elected governor.
This is something that Patrick will definitely need to address in the presidential campaign, but it's important to know that the story is not as cut and dried as it first may seem.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,325 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dware
(12,369 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)there was a process for these things, and the officials violated it repeatedly. 0Patrick fired the officials for, among other things, interfering with the hearing officer's decision which, even if people thought the decision was wrong, was inappropriate for them to do.
If you're going to use this incident to argue that Patrick is unfit for the presidency, at least make sure the story is accurate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)"The Dec. 9 attack was very similar, police said, to the circumstances surrounding the California rape, a longtime source of controversy that re-emerged in 2014, when Patrick fired the head of the Sex Offender Registry Board after she pushed to classify Sigh as a sex offender."
https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/06/13/deval-patricks-brother-in-law-found-guilty-in-kidnapping-rape-case/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)but he didn't fire her for "pushing." He fired her for a pattern of inappropriately interfering in decisions, culminating in an attempt to force a hearing officer to change his decision and retaliating against him when he refused.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)That he did this after HIS RELATIVE was dinged was, at best, extremely bad optics and very poor decision making. At best.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)If he had allowed the official to interfere and force the hearing officer to change his ruling, he'd have been accused of using his position to force a harsher punishment on the man who'd raped his sister.
As I said, it was complicated.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,325 posts)So it can also look like he was protecting his sisters family.
https://heavy.com/news/2019/11/deval-patrick-brother-in-law-bernard-sigh/
The Boston Herald reported in 2006 that Sigh had failed to register as a sex offender. This occurred during Deval Patricks first campaign for governor. A campaign spokesman told the newspaper at the time that the Sigh family were very upset and distressed that they have been dragged into this campaign of negative attacks. That spokesperson added, For someone to now try to drag a family member, a private citizen, who turned his life around, and reconciled with his wife, into the middle of a political campaign is disgusting. Patrick added that Sighs children had been unaware of the charges their father had faced until the media reports.
The Herald described Sigh and his wife as being avid churchgoers who counsel couples crises. The same article said that the couple had donated $1,600 to Patricks gubernatorial campaign. One of their children also donated $250.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)No matter what he did, he would have been criticized.
But that said, do you think it's appropriate for political appointees to try to force non-political career employee hearing examiners to change their legal rulings because they don't like the outcomes and when they refuse, to retaliate against them?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)list. It was a mistake and shows poor judgement...another woman was raped...this might not have happened had he been on this list...I don't care about the ins and outs of this...the guy should have been on the list. I read several articles...and I say this is bad news. The brother in law was taken off the list and when some objected (turns out with good reason) they were fired...and one of them later won a lawsuit I believe. We don't need this shit. He should not run.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)The brother-in-law wasn't "taken off the list" and Patrick appointees didn't "try to stop this guy from remaining on the sex offender list."
A hearing examiner - not a Patrick appointee - ruled that the law did not require him to register. These officials tried to force him to change his ruling, which was completely inappropriate and illegal, and when he refused to bow to their pressure, they harassed and retaliated against him and eventually drove him out of his job, which is also illegal and inappropriate.
If you're going to use this incident to judge Patrick, the "one and outs" of it certainly do matter - because facts. And a they say, you're entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)He should not even get in period.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Putting him on the sex offender registry, even if the law required it, wouldn't have prevented that.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,556 posts)him.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(11,300 posts)but it also doesn't detract from the statement that this story was both well known .. and more involved than the OP would suggest. OR .. that there was significant misconduct by the board alleged, that probably warranted firing or removal.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
58Sunliner
(4,384 posts)Paglia determined that he thought he (the rapist), posed no threat-wrong. The two fired wanted a revised ruling. The governor fired them years later-right before he leaves office. The ex-gov tried to shield a rapist, one that was married to his sister. Who would then go on to ruin someone's life with the same violent crime along with stalking, etc...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,757 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)Looks like those two clowns got fired because they got their unit sued to the tune of $60K.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Skya Rhen
(2,701 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Green Line
(1,123 posts)Purchased with taxpayer money for his new office and the Cadillac he ordered for $1100 a month also on the taxpayers. He ended up paying for the drapes and and the difference in the lease payment from the car he got rid of. This guy has some chutzpah.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skya Rhen
(2,701 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Jose Garcia
(2,595 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(11,300 posts)I HOPE you meant that you thought this was a smear?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Jose Garcia
(2,595 posts)then given racist overtones by Bush's campaign.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(11,300 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Jose Garcia
(2,595 posts)serving life sentences isn't a legitimate issue?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)We know that isn't the case, though.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Peacetrain
(22,875 posts)I thought his jumping in this late was ill advised, but with a background like that.. he is going no where
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,757 posts)Bad optics or no... this would kill any chance of us winning
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tblue37
(65,336 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
58Sunliner
(4,384 posts)Years later he was still upset about what he should have anticipated. The BIL was convicted in 1996.-"had been convicted of raping his wife, Patricks sister, more than a decade earlier in California"-1993. He served some time and they reunited-then in 2017 they separate, supposedly, and in Dec 2017 he attacks what is reported as his estranged wife. He is arrested in June 2018.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)And no I've never been on one, but I have a great friend who ended up on one for a bullshit reason. He's never done anything remotely like what got him on the list again, 20+ years ago. Not because it was so horrible, but because it was a total accident.
AFAIC, there's a legal process when you commit crimes, it involves things like trials and jails and probation/parole.
You do the crime, you do the time, and your debt is paid.
To me it's garbage that the law has carved out this method of basically endlessly punishing people just because 'sex' (which can just involve nudity) was involved in their crime.
And don't give me a BS about how recidivism is SO much higher with these people ... it's not. People who do or deal illegal drugs, rob banks, beat (not rape) their wives, or murder someone ... they are ALL likely to commit similar crimes in the future.
But none of them have to 'register as a drug dealer' or whatever ... and be punished basically forever. You can't get a job, you're publicly shunned, it's a friggin' scarlet letter from hell. And it doesn't take much ... public urination if some kid saw you ... can get you on the list.
The whole idea very much rubs me the wrong way.
JMHO.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Chemisse
(30,809 posts)If someone is considered a danger beyond his captivity, he should have been given a longer sentence.
In addition, many offenses, such as those involving teenaged romances, can land someone on such a list, and the resulting stigma can ruin their lives.
Finally, anyone can be a sex offender. Having a list offers a false sense of security.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)I support registration for sexual predators but not for some drunk guy caught pissing in an alley at 2AM or a 19 year old who had sex with his 15 year old girlfriend.
That being said seeing how these registries are currently run causes me to oppose them.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ForEverGlades
(64 posts)Agree that Sex Offender registries can be very misleading--others have mentioned the " high school romance " situations. No way these offenders should be treated as child rapists and many others.
But to the situation here--rape is a crime of violence.
Convicted rapists should be required to register as Violent Offenders anyway.
Mr. Patrick knew or absolutely should have known of the ethical quagmire here and should have recused himself from any involvement with this individual.
Surely a mechanism exists by which another Mass. State official could have reviewed the mattter if such review was needed.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)principle that I don't agree with making people pay basically endlessly for crimes.
You're assuming that mechanism exists ... what if it doesn't?
From what Starfish has been saying, the BIL was one of many abuses by these political appointees in interfering with the work of career civil servants whose job it was/is to determine things like who belongs on S.O. list (and presumably other decisions).
It also sounds like the people weren't fired until long after the decision was made by the hearing officer to NOT put the BIL on the S.O. list.
These facts contribute to the proposition that their interference was punished NOT directly because of the situation w/the BIL ... which is mitigating for Patrick IMHO.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Grey
(1,581 posts)He was working on behalf of the man that Raped his Sister? If he refers to it as only "marital" rape."
I just can't wrap my brain around this. Women deserve better.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
redqueen
(115,103 posts)sex offender registration is.
And other threads about this guy show people are still considering him as a worthwhile candidate.
Things really haven't changed around here all that much
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)He didn't fight to keep his brother-in-law off the list and didn't fire anyone for trying to get him to register.
After a state board ruled that his brother-in-law was not required by law to register as a sex offender because marital rape did not fall within the category of offenses to be included on the registry, a career hearing examiner upheld the decision, agreeing that the law did not require his registration.
Political appointees working for Patrick didn't like the decision and tried to force the hearing examiner to change it, an inappropriate and illegal interference in the legal process. When he refused, they retaliated against him and eventually pressured him to resign. The hearing examiner sued the state and received a settlement before the case went to trial.
This was not the first time that these appointees had engaged in such behavior. They had a long history of abusing their positions and violating law and procedure to try to force outcomes they wanted.
This was not an instance of Patrick intervening to help his family member or punish people for trying to enforce the law, as some people are claiming falsely. Patrick fired these political appointees, not because they tried to get his brother-in-law to register, but because they abused their positions and violated the law by trying to illegally pressure a hearing examiner to ignore the law.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
gopiscrap
(23,757 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TexasBushwhacker
(20,182 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
gopiscrap
(23,757 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
oasis
(49,379 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I really dont know much about him, but have been trying to catch up.
Didnt know this.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)He didn't fire anyone for trying to "force his brother-in-law to register." He fired them for violating the law by trying to force a hearing examiner to overturn a state board's decision that the law didn't require the brother-in-law to register.
That's a big difference.
If anyone is going to base an opinion of Patrick on his actions in that matter, it's important they have the facts straight. And if what he actually did was wrong, there's no need to mischaracterize his actions.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Like I said, I know very little about him.
What Ive read seems mostly positive.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
CTyankee
(63,909 posts)Women do deserve better.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden