More on Romney's financial chairman and the abuse at his "troubled teen" facility

[shance]

This is posted at the Daily Kos. The link provided below


"My biggest problem with this story is that it has been in the News since at least August of last year. That would seem to mean Mitt or some of his people had to be aware of this problem and did nothing about it.

This lawsuit makes the Abu Graib Prison Torturers look like wimps compared to what these kids were put thru. From a Press Release on the suit:

The facts of the case are clear. Chase’s parents entrusted their child to the control and direction of Defendants because Defendants advertised, promoted, and marketed their boarding school as a place where children with problems could get an education while they received direction in behavior modification for emotional growth and personal development.

Instead their son was severely abused for nearly two years while he was in their programs, Cross Creek and High Impact. Some of the allegations of abuse include:

• Unsanitary living conditions;

• Denial of adequate food;

• Denial of proper medical care and treatment;

• Denial of a minimally sufficient education;

• Exposure to cold temperatures for long periods of time;

• Forced physical exercise beyond his physical capacity;

• Placement in isolation for long periods of time, and at times, locked up in basements and put into uncomfortable positions;

• He was kicked, beaten, thrown and slammed to the ground, restrained, and humiliated;

• He was chained and locked in dog cages and, at times, tied by the writs and ankles;

• He was forced to clean and scrub toilets and floors with his toothbrush and then use the toothbrush afterwards;

• He was forced to carry heavy bags of sand around his neck throughout the day over many days;

• He was forced to wash dishes by using his hands and sand to scrub pots;

• He was forced to eat his own vomit;

• He endured sexual abuse;

• He endured emotional abuse when Defendants subjected him to near-total parental and societal isolation;

• In an effort to control his mind, he was prevented from having regular contact with his parents;

• Personal visits, correspondence, and telephone calls were either forbidden or discouraged; and

• He was forced to work without compensation.

Chase repeatedly witnessed other children being kicked, beaten, thrown to the ground, and humiliated by teachers, supervisors, and/or staff.

Because he was subjected to near-total isolation from the outside world, Chase was totally unequipped to enter outside society, which has made earning a living, forming and maintaining relationships, and adapting to society difficult at best. He will need extended therapy. press release
This release is only part of the story for sure. Another Lawsuit go back even farther,back to 2004 at least.

Over the years WWASPS has been involved in multiple lawsuits. In August 2004 WWASPS was defeated in a jury trial in Federal Court by Sue Scheff and P.U.R.E. WWASPS appealed, and lost again in June 2006.
From the same release it should be pretty clear that this has not been a silent story, just that nobody connected the dots. The kudos for that go to The Hill and Alexander Bolton.

Former students alleged they were forced to eat their own vomit, were beaten, thrown, and slammed to the ground, chained to dog cages, locked in small boxes, locked in basements, denied adequate food, deprived of sleep, hog tied, and more, during their stay in WWASPS programs.

Not only is it hard to ignore the countless children and parents who have come forward with allegations of abuse, neglect, and fraud, but it is hard to ignore the countless news articles and segments on Dateline NBC, Primetime, 48 Hours, Inside Edition, Fox News, alleging abuse and neglect in these programs. http://www.webwire.com/...
Just to top it all off and really make things harder for Mitt is this tidbit form the end of the Hill article. It should make pleading ignorance a bit rough on Mitt. If Mitt didn't know about all this , he should of and if he did know about it's even worse.

One of the lawyers making allegations against Lichfield is Thomas M. Burton, by his own account, a relative of Romney through marriage and a one-time friend of the ex-governor’s late father, George Romney.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/20/2648/52582

[AndreaCG]

1. I'm glad the"mainstram" media reported on this too

This is going to bite Mitt in the ass. Too bad Giuliani will probably benefit. Or Thompson.

[shance]

2. I think there is also an investigation going in Texas, and maybe in Florida

with some of the same allegations of widespread sexual abuse with knowledge of such conduct by those very high up.

That's what is pretty amazing. These scandals have been happening for quite a while now and our media has been stopped from publicizing what is happening.

Apparently this friend of Mr. Richfield was planning to buy Kemper Military School as well.

Seems they want to implement their school policies nationwide?