(Kildee)Mich. congressman: Distant relative’s sex abuse claims 50 years ago are ‘false and shameful'

[alp227]

Source: AP

A Michigan congressman on Sunday fiercely denied allegations by distant relatives that he sexually abused a then-12-year-old second cousin several decades ago.

U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, a Democrat who has represented his hometown of Flint and the surrounding area for 34 years, issued a statement calling the 50-year-old allegations “completely false and shameful.” The Washington Times (http://bit.ly/saNwyI ) first reported the allegations and posted on its website video interviews with the alleged victim’s mother, stepfather and sister.

Kildee, who plans to retire next year, accused the relatives of working with “political adversaries to destroy my reputation by lying about something that never took place.”

The congressman said the allegations surfaced during his last congressional race but were rejected by authorities and news organizations. They have apparently resurfaced in an effort to win the open seat in 2012, Kildee said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts-law/mich-congressman-distant-relatives-sex-abuse-claims-50-years-ago-are-false-and-shameful/2011/11/20/gIQAxAJFgN_story.html

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So we've heard about how former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested over charges he molested boys since the late '90s. And other college sports coaches accused of molestation (at the Citadel and Syracuse) have faced the music after their victims became adults.

But hmm. After 50 years? There appears to be political motivation and influence by the Sandusky scandal here.

[RandySF]

1. Wasn't Kildee a priest at one time?

[MidwestTransplant]

3. I don't know about that but he was my mom's Latin teacher when she was in

High School.

[gvstn]

2. Gawker has a bit of context

http://gawker.com/5861282/michigan-congressman-denies-molesting-cousin-50-years-ago

It really does seem like the congressman has dealt with these allegations before and it is a matter of mental illness on his relative's part.

[Bozita]

7. Yes, it does!

Well worth the trip.

[pnwmom]

4. This is why we have statute of limitation laws.

It would be virtually impossible to defend oneself against charges after several decades have passed.

Although I'm glad he kept the loony letter his accuser sent him in the 80's. Complete with hearts instead of dotted i's.

[woo me with science]

5. Let's not conflate the two cases. nt

[saras]

6. This is why getting hysterical about true cases is unhelpful

[sarcasmo]

8. 50 years does seem a bit fishy.

[Doctor_J]

9. Leave it to the Moonie Times

and DUers who read it to dredge this up. Ignore