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You are here: Home / Politics / America / Breaking News: NY State Attorney General Eric Schniederman Has Been Accused of Physical Abuse

Breaking News: NY State Attorney General Eric Schniederman Has Been Accused of Physical Abuse

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From Jane Mayer and Ronan Farrow at The New Yorker.

Eric Schneiderman, New York’s attorney general, has long been a liberal Democratic champion of women’s rights, and recently he has become an outspoken figure in the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment. As New York State’s highest-ranking law-enforcement officer, Schneiderman, who is sixty-three, has used his authority to take legal action against the disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein, and to demand greater compensation for the victims of Weinstein’s alleged sexual crimes. Last month, when the Times and this magazine were awarded a joint Pulitzer Prize for coverage of sexual harassment, Schneiderman issued a congratulatory tweet, praising “the brave women and men who spoke up about the sexual harassment they had endured at the hands of powerful men.” Without these women, he noted, “there would not be the critical national reckoning under way.”

Now Schneiderman is facing a reckoning of his own. As his prominence as a voice against sexual misconduct has risen, so, too, has the distress of four women with whom he has had romantic relationships or encounters. They accuse Schneiderman of having subjected them to nonconsensual physical violence. All have been reluctant to speak out, fearing reprisal. But two of the women, Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam, have talked to The New Yorker on the record, because they feel that doing so could protect other women. They allege that he repeatedly hit them, often after drinking, frequently in bed and never with their consent. Manning Barish and Selvaratnam categorize the abuse he inflicted on them as “assault.” They did not report their allegations to the police at the time, but both say that they eventually sought medical attention after having been slapped hard across the ear and face, and also choked. Selvaratnam says that Schneiderman warned her he could have her followed and her phones tapped, and both say that he threatened to kill them if they broke up with him. (Schneiderman’s spokesperson said that he “never made any of these threats.”)

A third former romantic partner of Schneiderman’s told Manning Barish and Selvaratnam that he also repeatedly subjected her to nonconsensual physical violence, but she told them that she is too frightened of him to come forward. (TheNew Yorker has independently vetted the accounts that they gave of her allegations.) A fourth woman, an attorney who has held prominent positions in the New York legal community, says that Schneiderman made an advance toward her; when she rebuffed him, he slapped her across the face with such force that it left a mark that lingered the next day. She recalls screaming in surprise and pain, and beginning to cry, and says that she felt frightened. She has asked to remain unidentified, but shared a photograph of the injury with The New Yorker.

In a statement, Schneiderman said, “In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity. I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in nonconsensual sex, which is a line I would not cross.”

Much more at the link. This is quickly going to overtake the news’ cycle, so buckle up and strap in. The ride is going to get bumpy! I expect “Executive Time” will be lit!

Updated at 9:50 PM EDT:

Open thread.

Reader Interactions

269Comments

  1. 1.

    Bobby Thomson

    So the firing of Mueller can’t be far off if they’re already acting to neuter Schneiderman.

  3. 3.

    Corner Stone

    I hope his, I hesitate to name them as victims but I guess that is still the right word?, get some satisfaction. But, if Schneiderman burns over his own bad acts that doesn’t change anything in the bigger picture. Have him resign and another person take over, as needed. I hear Preet has some time on his hands when he’s not doing a podcast.

  5. 5.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Corner Stone: @Baud: Schneiderman’s deputy was hired from Bharara’s office. Specifically to be the team lead on this stuff. So I’m not too worried about the investigation.

  6. 6.

    MisterForkbeard

    Oh, hooray! This is fantastic news. >_<

    If Schneiderman is guilty of the behavior, he should just admit to it and leave everything to his deputy.

    ETA: The “I did some stuff in roleplay” is… interesting? I have friends that legit do this kind of thing. The key thing is that it’s consensual. There’s *substantial* danger for them in doing so, however, and most of them know it. All it takes is one angry ex-partner to go to the police with bruises or whatever and say it was assault, and there you go.

    I doubt that’s the case here.

  7. 7.

    Mary G

    I’m sure people are frantically Googling NY election/succession law all over the country. He will have to go, I imagine, but yes, this is going to be hurricane-level for a least a day or two.

  8. 8.

    Baud

    @MisterForkbeard: Yeah, unless he has a pretty strong response, I hope he resigns quickly. Jane Mayer is a respected journalist. This is more than anonymous whispers on the internet.

  9. 9.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Mary G: Especially as it will overtake whatever this is:

  10. 10.

    Corner Stone

    @Mary G: If Trump makes a big deal of Schneiderman doing something wrong with women, I hope the 19 women accusers of Trump + new accounts get flooded into the spotlight.

  12. 12.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    There’s a bigger picture here as well as a lot at stake and these women better be fucking telling the truth.

    ETA: I understand that his deputy, who was picked by Preet, will takeover. That’s good. But did the accusers know that?

  13. 13.

    Elizabelle

    @Bobby Thomson: Yes. Absolutely. Because Schneiderman is the whole AG’s office. He takes all the parking spaces, too.

    Get over yourself.

    Personally, I am wondering how much of a head’s up Mueller and team might have had about this. Not helpful.

  14. 14.

    Mnemosyne

    Well, that sucks. Hopefully whoever the deputy who will be taking over is someone who knows how to keep their hands to themselves.

    The bit about it most frequently happening after he had been drinking makes me wonder if he drinks to blackout. That also is Not Good.

  15. 15.

    geg6

    If this is true, it sucks. But the state investigation will still go on. Didn’t he hire someone who worked for Preet?

    ETA: I see this has been addressed.

  16. 16.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Baud: I’m about halfway through the article, but there is no way that Mayer and Farrow run with this unless they have it completely locked down tight.

  17. 17.

    CarolDuhart2

    Attorney General of New York. Apparently the State Legislature elects them, and they have no time limit. If you are a New Yorker, and have a preference, talk to your state legislators, apparently both House and Senate.

  19. 19.

    gratuitous

    Look for the New York state investigation to be relentlessly savaged by Trump and his media mouthpieces. They have no scruples whatever about de-legitimizing every other part of government except their own cesspool. Schneiderman will be dragged through the mud, the AG’s office will be attacked, and every Fox talking chucklehead will spend their days talking about what a phony investigation New York is mounting.

    This will cause at least 40% of our population to lose their damn minds.

  20. 20.

    Elizabelle

    @Adam L Silverman: Yeah. Jane Mayer is gold standard to me. Le sigh. How sad to have this be the case with Schneiderman ….

    @Mnemosyne:

    Hopefully whoever the deputy who will be taking over is someone who knows how to keep their hands to themselves.

    I am rather hoping the deputy will turn out to be a woman. Would be lovely for going after Trump.

  23. 23.

    Mnemosyne

    @? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?:

    The fact that there are multiple women who were willing to be named and have their stories investigated gives it quite a bit of credibility to me, especially when backed up by photos. As does the detail about his drinking — if he’s prone to blackout drinking, he may genuinely believe he didn’t do it because he has no memory of it.

  25. 25.

    ruemara

    *shrug*
    He’s AG. He can resign. The cases don’t depend on the AG. It depends on the quality of the team handling it.
    Frankly, Ronan Farrow has done amazing work on these subjects, so I’m very likely to believe he’s got the facts to back up the claims.

    @gratuitous: They never had minds to worry about anyway.

  28. 28.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @Mnemosyne:
    I’m not questioning their account, but couldn’t this have waited until this whole Trump mess blew over? It’s not like the fate of American democracy is at stake or anything.

    This is terrible timing.

  29. 29.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    @gratuitous: let’s not go overboard.

    Schneiderman will step down and hopefully will be prosecuted for violence against women.

    Preet Bharara will be a better AG after the fall election.

  30. 30.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Corner Stone:

    Ronan Farrow has been a busy little beaver, nicked war?

    Who would have guessed that Sinatra’s kid had such analytical depth?

  34. 34.

    Elizabelle

    WaPost has a breaking news banner. About Ben Carson.

    HUD Secretary Ben Carson to be sued for suspending Obama-era fair-housing rule
    A lawsuit to be filed at midnight by fair-housing advocates accuses Carson of unlawfully suspending a rule intended to end nearly 50 years of inaction and enforce the 1968 Fair Housing Act by compelling communities to draft plans to desegregate — or risk losing federal funds.

    Nothing yet about Schneiderman.

    Nothing on NY Daily News yet.

  35. 35.

    piratedan

    sorry… at this point, with the cogent examples of GOP ratfuckery abounding in the 4th estate, I’ll wait until someone presses charges. If he’s guilty, then by all means have at him, but at this point in time, for this story to drop, I find it dubious. Three months ago riding the crest of the #metoo revelations, sure, I could see it and understand it and perhaps even embrace it. I also understand that not everyone feels comfortable coming forward at an “approved moment”. It’s just that whenever we seem to get to putting the screws to multiple instances of crimes of those in the GOP, be they campaign law violations, treason, money laundering, corruption, sexual assault, fraud, etc… it sure as fuck seems orchestrated that SOMETHING HAPPENS to the people carrying the banners…

    Access Hollywood…… DCC hacks exposed
    GOP Senate grilling…. Al Franken is “exposed”
    MSNBC pulling more credence than Faux News…. Joy Reid is brought under scrutiny…

    and now this…

    As I said before, if he’s guilty, then I want him punished, I want the women to press charges and I want there to be a day in court… but if this follows the other examples, it’s just more GOP knee-capping until I see something other than one story from the New Yorker. Sorry to be so cynical, but I have a hard time taking any of this face value anymore.

    dons flame retardant suit

  36. 36.

    r€nato

    Looks like it’s time once again for conservatives to temporarily give a shit about sexual harassment and violence against women.

  37. 37.

    moops

    I think Trump’s money laundering story will stay in the hot cache. It has legs. That will really P*** Trump off. and if he whines about it then all his creepy past should be part of the next news cycle.

  38. 38.

    debbie

    @gratuitous:

    Look for the New York state investigation to be relentlessly savaged by Trump and his media mouthpieces.

    How rich that Trump condemns someone else for sexual assault. Gah!

  39. 39.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Mnemosyne: From the article:

    Like Manning Barish, Selvaratnam says that Schneiderman routinely drank heavily—a bottle and a half of wine, or more. He also took sedatives, she says, and pushed her to drink with him, saying, “Drink your bourbon, Turnip”—his nickname for her. In the middle of the night, he staggered through the apartment, as if in a trance. “I’ve never seen anyone that messed up,” she recalls. “It was like sleeping next to a monster.” The next morning, she says, he’d seem fine, but often berated her for not having kept him away from the alcohol.

  43. 43.

    Baud

    Schneidermann should have used NDAs.

    @piratedan:

    I’d share your sentiment if it weren’t Jane Mayer. Let’s see what he says.

  44. 44.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Elizabelle:

    Yep, I noticed that too.

    Nor, last time I checked, did Wikipedia’s entry on Schneiderman — though that’s been half an hour or so, so may well have been updated by now.

  45. 45.

    Anya

    Sweet baby Jesus! Is there a man left in public life who’s not a creepy predator? This is so disheartening.

  46. 46.

    Mary G

    I just finished the article and I feel sick. There are tons of details and corroborations of hitting, choking, controlling, body-shaming, threatening to use his legal power, and it’s all extremely similar and believable. He seems to be a Jekyll and Hyde drinker/druggie and there is no way in my opinion that he could have thought this stuff was consensual. Ugh.

    These women are brave beyond belief. I salute them. It’s time that people know that even women who are extremely well-educated can still talk themselves into being victims of abuse, because you get to a point where you hardly believe your own eyes and ears.

  47. 47.

    Adam L Silverman

    @? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?:

    but couldn’t this have waited until this whole Trump mess blew over?

    No! People don’t get a pass for political expediency. Moreover, given the dates of the relationships, the statute of limitations hasn’t run out. He faces potential criminal exposure here. Including from New York’s anti-choking law, which he wrote!

  51. 51.

    Weaselone

    Article seems solid. He needs to resign, be tried and hopefully enter a substance abuse program.

  52. 52.

    ruemara

    I really can’t figure out this tendency to pin your hopes on a single man. It’s meant for heartbreak.

    I can just see this year’s parental obligation day tribute cards, “Dear Progenitors & nominal caretakers. Thank you for inuring me to disappointing human frailties. Here is your Amazon card.”

    @Anya: Probably not and that includes gay men. & straight women. & lesbians. & gender non-conforming people. Just give up on anyone with power.

  55. 55.

    Mnemosyne

    @piratedan:

    I find the story to be pretty credible. We would probably need a NYC lawyer to chime in, but this seems like one of the less damaging times for this story to come out, which also gives it some extra credibility to me. There’s still plenty of time for a new AG to be appointed.

    Now, if the new AG that the legislature appoints is a Trump hack, then I may reverse my position, but right now, this seems pretty legit.

  56. 56.

    Corner Stone

    @Adam L Silverman: I, for one, am well past tired of Rick Wilson’s not so subtle hints at really dark, *dark*, DARK! revelations right…around…the…corner…
    But I can’t tell you what they are! I will have to let a journalist do that and then tell you AH-HA! Toldjasew.

  58. 58.

    T S (the dour one)

    @Adam L Silverman: Also, what if the reporters tried to bury this for political expediency, and then it came out closer to the election or during the state-level prosecution of Trump associates. That would be worse timing, AND their own reputations as reporters would be tarnished. Better to get this out of the way now. Hit job or not, this was going to come out.

  61. 61.

    piratedan

    @Baud: I would agree, but once upon a time no one ever questioned the veracity of the NYT either…. and yes, there are lots of details listed there that would tend to end an air of authenticity, but as soon as I lean on that crutch, I see books coming out about what hair straightener Chelsea Clinton supposedly used, so at this point I am extremely cautious about just piling on.

    As mentioned, if they press charges, then that takes it to a whole nother level and makes it a lot more likely to hold water (imho) but right now, I want Schneiderman to have an opportunity to respond rather than just assuming the worst.

  64. 64.

    Elizabelle

    I am wondering if there was any talk of this within the NY legal circles. Does this take everyone by shock? You’d expect to have Giuliani and other jackasses braying a lot earlier …

    Shades of the John Fedders case. Anyone else remember that one? Shocking for its time … John and Charlotte Fedders.

  66. 66.

    Steve in the ATL

    @piratedan: I’m with piratedan (who has excellent taste in music) on this one. Could be real, but sure could be ratfuckery. Been burned too many times. Let’s let it play out before we call him Al Franken.

  67. 67.

    Mnemosyne

    @Anya:

    So far, the list is Mr. Rogers and Tom Hanks. There is a running joke around Hollywood with women “accusing” Hanks of being too nice, and so far no one has come forward to gainsay that.

  69. 69.

    David Anderson

    We need to demand a resignation by the end of the week assuming (98.75% chance) the reporting holds up

    1) it is the right thing to do
    2) signals are credible if costly

  74. 74.

    T S (the dour one)

    @Steve in the ATL: Well, some people might think calling someone Al Franken implies ratfuckery, and some people might think it’s the other way around. Which did you mean?

  75. 75.

    Mnemosyne

    @T S (the dour one):

    Also, what if the reporters tried to bury this for political expediency, and then it came out closer to the election or during the state-level prosecution of Trump associates.

    Yep. This is not terrible timing and should not cause much damage to the ongoing investigation.

  79. 79.

    Elizabelle

    Ah. The FTF NY Vichy Times also had the allegations. Who started this story around??

    Both Ms. Manning Barish and Ms. Selvaratnam have in recent days repeatedly declined to comment when reporters for The Times asked them to address the allegations.

    Some of Mr. Schneiderman’s former partners were taken aback by the allegations being leveled against him.

  82. 82.

    Elizabelle

    Last part of the NY Times story. They have five reporters credited. They’d been working it::

    “I’ve known Eric for nearly 35 years as a husband, father and friend,” said Jennifer Cunningham, his former wife and frequent political strategist. “These allegations are completely inconsistent with the man I know, who has always been someone of the highest character, outstanding values and a loving father.”

    Mr. Schneiderman has long been regarded as one of the state’s most progressive politicians, even before his 2013 lawsuit against Trump University and his subsequent suits against the Trump administration made him the darling of the political left. Last fall, Mr. Schneiderman’s office proudly pointed to a segment on the late-night comedy show “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” in which the attorney general was described as “a hero who stood up to democracy’s nemesis,” a Superman-like character known as Schneider-man.

    His credentials as an advocate for women, in particular, have gone unquestioned.

    In 2010, as a state senator from Manhattan, he introduced a bill to make intentional strangulation to the point of unconsciousness a violent felony. That same year, the National Organization for Women’s New York branch endorsed him in his successful bid for attorney general, citing his “unmatched work” in “protecting women who are victims of domestic abuse.”

    For several years, his office has published a “Know Your Rights” brochure for victims of domestic violence. “We must recognize that our work keeping New Yorkers safe from domestic violence is far from over,” Mr. Schneiderman said in the announcement for the 2016 brochure.

  85. 85.

    B.B.A.

    Schneiderman needs to resign yesterday.
    As does Cuomo. (Not that I know of him doing anything the least bit untoward, I just hate his DINO ass.)

  88. 88.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @Adam L Silverman:
    I understand what you and others are saying and I do agree. But I wasn’t talking about “political expediency”. I meant the greater good. But it seems it won’t materially matter for the investigation.

  91. 91.

    magurakurin

    @Baud: the fate of the American Democracy depended on the election in 2016, in which nearly have the country didn’t even bother to vote. We’ve already failed that test.

    Dude needs to step down and quick.

  92. 92.

    Jay

    @ruemara:

    There is often as well, a certain amount of sociopathy required to attain/maintain certain levels of power.

  93. 93.

    Mnemosyne

    @Elizabelle:

    NOTE: PURE SPECULATION FOLLOWS

    That might be consistent with him having an addiction problem where he’s abusive while under the influence and doesn’t remember later. But Ted Bundy volunteered for a domestic violence hotline, so it could also be some serious sociopathy.

  96. 96.

    magurakurin

    @piratedan:

    MSNBC pulling more credence than Faux News…. Joy Reid is brought under scrutiny…

    uh, it wasn’t the right wing that came for Joy Reid…that was the Bernie stans. with allies like them…who needs enemies?

  97. 97.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    I think I’m going to apply for a passport. Just in case.

  99. 99.

    patroclus

    Don’t tell Corner Stone, but Ronan Farrow is gay. First he takes down Harvey Weinstein, now Eric Schniederman.

  100. 100.

    Ruckus

    @piratedan:
    I’m not going to pile on either, other to say I’ve known some people to get quite violent when they have been drinking. Me, I get jolly and fall down. But I’ve seen people put a fist through a wall and worse. And some do not know what happened when they have been drinking or even how much they actually consume.
    So what I’m going to say in this case is similar to you with one caveat. He deserves his day in court but being one of the major law enforcement people in NY, will he get treated differently than say a guy walking down the street while black? I’d bet so, so my take is, if charges are filed he should resign and get out of the way. What he is doing is too important to everyone, including the women accusing him. Our system of law and order is pretty well fucked up, with the privileged being exactly that and everyone else getting differing levels of screwed. I have no ideas on how to fix it because a lot of it is human nature and a lot of people’s nature sucks.

  101. 101.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud:

    I should put “not sexual predator” on my resume.

    So you’re just a regular predator then.

    /Phrasing!

  102. 102.

    zhena gogolia

    And another thing: I’m really sick of reading the details of these stories. Each one of these guys has their own special kinks and why do I need to know about it? I’d be better off not knowing. Starting with the creep in the White House.

  104. 104.

    Mnemosyne

    @Major Major Major Major:

    That’s what the deal was with Eliot Spitzer — he was blackmailing prostitutes into having sex with him while he was actively prosecuting other hookers.

    It’s also pretty common for physical abuse to happen when someone is under the influence since their inhibitions are lowered, and depending on how advanced their addiction is, they may not remember doing it.

  107. 107.

    PsiFighter37

    When is the filing deadline in NY for this year’s elections? I should really know, since I live here…

  108. 108.

    Elizabelle

    @SiubhanDuinne: That’s very interesting about CNN. They’re confirming, aren’t they?

    NY Daily News and NY Post had stories up; LA Times did not …

    NY Times story reported that The New Yorker was reporting, and then stuck in the background they had for their own story. What a boy scout … blah blah blah …

    AND: I didn’t hear anything on NPR hourly recap. Top story was Jeff Sessions in San Diego, speaking on immigration. Now they’re on to stock market. NPR did not run with it. So far …

  109. 109.

    Jay

    @zhena gogolia:

    Skip over them. Once upon a time the details went unreported, and funny thing, the women were never believed by a huge segment of the population.

  112. 112.

    Elizabelle

    New Orleans has its first female mayor. Yea! Didn’t catch her name. (NPR.) Mitch Landrieu was term-limited. (Which kind of puts his remarks on Confederate monuments a bit in perspective. … Still delightful he made that speech …)

  113. 113.

    VeniceRiley

    Ronan was right about Harvey and he’s right about this. He scooped NYT on Harvey and had more facts and greater detail at that time. He also broke the Black Cube angle. He has the facts on the record here too, including photos and health records and more detail.

    Any man, ANY Juicer, that says they’re not believing this until proved because of Al Franken is human garbage to me. The end.

  114. 114.

    B.B.A.

    At this point we can basically presume that every white dude in elected office is a sexual predator. I look forward to the Democrats figuring this out and primarying our remaining white dude officeholders.

  115. 115.

    afanasia

    @Mary G: I read Mayer/Farrow too. These women don’t sound like liars. And this is all familiar to me – it made me gag.

  116. 116.

    Ryan

    Too many data points not to speculate that there is a New York thing involved here in part.

  118. 118.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @Elizabelle:
    What politicians do when they’re term-limited is usually inline with their true beliefs.

  119. 119.

    Elizabelle

    @Mnemosyne: Maybe so. An addiction problem that developed after his marriage, or maybe the cause of the divorce (and wife did not know its scope or effects?)

    Anyway, if these allegations are true, he is toast, and get help. Immediately.

  121. 121.

    Steve in the ATL

    @VeniceRiley: then call me garbage. The republicans ratfucked Dan Rather on a big story too. I’m not saying Schneiderman is not guilty, but we absolutely should not call for him to resign until either we know the facts or he resigns on his own initiative because he knows he’s guilty.

  122. 122.

    Sloane Ranger

    @Baud: In the article he’s quoted as saying it was consensual, but even if that is true it doesn’t look good.

    From what the women say he sounds like a high functioning alcoholic.

  123. 123.

    TS (the original)

    @Anya:

    President Obama

    (Edit: And I knew I wouldn’t be the first to say that name)

  124. 124.

    Barbara

    Lots of infrequent and new commenters accusing people of bad faith for not advocating immediate resignation. Hmmmm.

  125. 125.

    Steve in the ATL

    @SiubhanDuinne: @JPL: thanks everyone for your concern and support. Doctors went back on yesterday and fixed what they screwed up the week before, but still have no idea what has been causing the pain that preceded and is succeeding the acute pain incident of last Monday. So probably a couple more days in the hospital then they will send her home with painkillers and let the mayo doctors take a crack at it.

    SD, it’s been nice having a drinking buddy out here!

  126. 126.

    Jay

    @Elizabelle:

    Broke my Mom, broke my Sister, made me stronger and more aware, ditto for my brother. My Mom was an alcoholic too, but she went to AA, eventually my Dad became a dry drunk.

    The really sad thing is they stayed madly in love, even after the divorce, until the days they died, with out ever seeing each other.

  127. 127.

    Roger Moore

    @Elizabelle:

    Mitch Landrieu was term-limited. (Which kind of puts his remarks on Confederate monuments a bit in perspective. … Still delightful he made that speech …)

    It gives it some perspective, but I sincerely doubt that being termed out means he’ll never run for office again.

  129. 129.

    Mnemosyne

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Hopefully he has a few good friends trying to talk him into rehab right now, because these are pretty detailed and specific allegations. And his statement above doesn’t make him look great:

    In a statement, Schneiderman said, “In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity. I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in nonconsensual sex, which is a line I would not cross.”

    The women aren’t alleging sexual abuse or rape. They’re alleging that he hit and threatened them outside of sexual activity. So that’s kind of a non-responsive statement from him.

  130. 130.

    Jay

    @Sloane Ranger:

    The Jian Ghomeshe case pretty much kind blew that defense out of the water with out confirmantion by a third party or a written contract.

  131. 131.

    Elizabelle

    @VeniceRiley: Sharon Waxman, then with the NY Times, was working the Harvey Weinstein story back in the early 2000s, but got pulled off it. Surprise, surprise, no one at the NYT professes to remember just how that happened now.

    So, yeah, the NY Times eventually ran the story. But they had a lead years upon years ago and quashed it. They sat on it. For 14 years.

    Waxman was with the WaPost before the NY Times; I remember she was quite good. Now runs her own website on the business of Hollywood, The Wrap.

    The Wrap: That Time Harvey Weinstein Visited New York Times’ Top Editor to Kill My 2004 Expose

    The plot thickens: Now three people confirm that then-executive editor Bill Keller met with the mogul in advance of my piece getting gutted

  134. 134.

    Platonailedit

    The traitorous twitler thug is going to get away with it all, isn’t he? Sigh.

  135. 135.

    gene108

    What’s with NY AG’s and inappropriate sex lives. First Spitzer was making a name for himself and turns out he was paying a prostitute for sex.

    And Schneiderman gets slappy.

  136. 136.

    Ruckus

    @different-church-lady:
    It’s not just NY. Most of my life men have been told that they are the shit, the breadwinners, the homebuilders, the stronger, blah, blah, blah…….. A lot of assholes don’t just buy it, they believe it, they live it, or try to. Add on top of that, chemicals that negatively affect some brains far worse than others……

  137. 137.

    Elizabelle

    @JPL: Interesting; was skimming the NY Times reader comments (only 26 up at the moment) and they smell a rat too. Someone mentioned Blackcube.

  139. 139.

    david

    @Mnemosyne: Rehab in lieu of jail. Just like every other wealthy privileged celebrity. The song is the same, regardless of who’s singing.

  141. 141.

    afanasia

    @B.B.A.: Yes. I was upset about Franken – I thought what happened to him was too harsh. But please read the article. You don’t understand how credible they will sound to a lot of women. I could write a damn book about that choking sh*t.

  142. 142.

    eemom

    um, Ronan Farrow is a long way from a reliable journalist. See, e.g., how he got to be a “journalist” in the first place.

  145. 145.

    Elizabelle

    WaPost STILL does not have a story up. Very interesting. What about CNN?

    In the meantime, George Zimmerman is back in the news, per WaPost headline:

    George Zimmerman charged with stalking man who contacted him about Trayvon Martin documentary

    I did not click.

  146. 146.

    Sheila in NC

    @gene108: They just “teased” the Schneiderman story on Chris Hayes’ show. I changed the channel.

  149. 149.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @Steve in the ATL:
    Thanks. I’m just afraid that if shit hits the fan here there won’t be anywhere else to run to given everywhere seems to be backsliding

  153. 153.

    Jay

    @JPL:

    There’s a narrow window for Public Figures to “manage” it, before public perceptions go toxic and expand well beyond the initial Public Figure into organizations and institutions.

  155. 155.

    Amir Khalid

    @VeniceRiley:
    Then I guess I’m garbage. Because only human garbage would believe that serious accusations need serious proof, right?

  159. 159.

    eemom

    Also, as someone pointed out above, this kind of stuff absolutely is done consensually. I don’t know if it was or wasn’t in this case, because I have this weird neurotic thing about not rushing to judgment until the facts are known. That said, the scent of ratfuckery lingers.

  160. 160.

    Feathers

    Sadly, vicious abusers hiding behind anti-domestic violence activism as a cover, even to the point of specifically and serially starting relationships with abused women who weren’t fully back on their feet again is not unheard of. The pull of But their work is so important! Is very strong, even on this thread.

  161. 161.

    Elizabelle

    @Omnes Omnibus: OK. Steeling up.

    I got to say, I am still furious over the pile-on on Al Franken. He should still be in the Senate. That episode made me embarrassed to be a Democrat, and it’s the only thing ever that did. Ever. Show some spine and protect your own. (And fuck you, Kirsten Gillibrand. And the Democratic women senators who pushed it. Do you patriots have some information that we do not? Maybe you should have shared it. As it is, you look like dicks too. WTG, ladies.)

    This is very different though, WRT the allegations …

  162. 162.

    B.B.A.

    When’s the last time ANYONE accused of any kind of sexual misconduct has been proven innocent?

  165. 165.

    david

    @Corner Stone: I fear we may never see another day of the week anytime in the near future.
    Friday has now become Groundhog Day. ‘I Got You Babe’ is now our national anthem.

  166. 166.

    Elizabelle

    @Platonailedit: There, there. It’s the office. Not solely the person of Eric Schneiderman.

    And who knows what will come out next about Trump and his jokers?

  167. 167.

    Major Major Major Major

    @Corner Stone:

    You don’t think Schneiderman had higher political ambitions in his future? And was effective in his current position?

    I also think both men are Jewish but it’s equally irrelevant. But you’re right, there are lots of parallels that have little to do with evaluating the claims.

  168. 168.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Elizabelle: The story broke an hour or so ago. I am not willing to call for someone’s head that quickly. If he admits it or isn’t able to rebut it, then he should be gone.

  170. 170.

    Origuy

    @Mnemosyne:

    So far, the list is Mr. Rogers and Tom Hanks.

    I have a friend who knows Tom Hanks’ first wife. She wouldn’t agree.

    ETA. Make that “knew”. Samantha Lewes passed away in 2002.
    ETA2. I don’t know details, it may not have been physical.

  171. 171.

    PPCLI

    @Platonailedit: I don’t see that anything needs to change from a legal point of view. The NY Attorney General’s office is still standing. Schneiderman’s deputy is a former Preet guy who has been handling the connections with Mueller’s investigation. I don’t see why that won’t continue.

  172. 172.

    Elizabelle

    @Jay: That’s all true. Ronan has also been pursuing a crusade against Woody Allen, which is kind of problematic to me.

    I did not have that positive an impression of him at the outset.

  175. 175.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Baud: Obama didn’t blow a guy for coke back in the ’90s either.*

    *Yeah, that accusation was made.

  176. 176.

    Mary G

    I managed to stay off politics and on the Met Gala for an hour, but then I got anxious.

    My first impression is that Schneiderman ‘s guilty of all this, and his statement reads like a Bill Clinton level evasion of truth to me, but deserves he full due process, as did Franken, who I did not think should have resigned when he did.

    Yashar tweeted that first, evidently rumors of Schneiderman’s proclivities have circulated in NY media for years, and second, that he had never heard them.

  178. 178.

    Jay

    @eemom:

    Only morons engage in BDSM without a written, signed contract and only sociopaths try to “top” while drunk.

    Drunk people can’t give consent, so after that, it’s rape.

    And further, the allegations are not that he beat and physically assaulted them during “sex”, he beat and assaulted them outside of the bedroom, and for assaulting one of them in public, not being sufficiently enthralled at his attempt to grope them.

  179. 179.

    B.B.A.

    @Baud: Hmm. I was thinking the Duke lacrosse team, but the latter is more recent than that. I’ll allow it.

  182. 182.

    Platonailedit

    It’s not the man, it’s the office. I get it. But starting from Sally Yates to Preet Bharara to asshole Comey to this guy, our pawns/warriors are being scuppered. At this rate, no one will be left to man the much prized office. Not a comforting trend.

  185. 185.

    Jay

    @Elizabelle:

    As he points out, Woody Allen is both his father, and his brother, and in reality, he has nothing to do with Woody Allen, they are estranged.

    That’s not a problem for me.

    There’s a bunch of movies I no longer watch, because of who made them or who’s in them.

  186. 186.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Elizabelle: I think Josh Marshall has this correct:

  187. 187.

    T S

    @Mnemosyne: If thats sarcasm, it is also a logical fallacy. Worse timing later doesn’t imply it is good now. You know this is so.

  189. 189.

    Origuy

    @Mnemosyne: That’s a good point. It may just have been that he cheated on her. It is true that when her cancer was diagnosed, he paid for specialists to treat her.

  190. 190.

    JPL

    I guess the asshole has been practicing today in case he agrees to talk to Mueller and CNN is saying it didn’t go well. DOH

  192. 192.

    Elizabelle

    WaPost just put up their story. 8:50 am.

    NPR has it as lead story on the 9:00 p recap.

  194. 194.

    B.B.A.

    Matthew Yglesias
    ‏Verified account @mattyglesias

    Only nominate women for office until we figure out what’s going on.
    8:09 PM – 7 May 2018

  195. 195.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Platonailedit: Perhaps the corruption prosecutor that Preet Bharara squirreled away in the NY AG’s office as he was being forced out:
    http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/03/new-york-ag-hires-bharara-corruption-guy-to-look-into-trump.html

    The assistant U.S. Attorney who led public-corruption prosecutions under now-fired Preet Bharara is taking on a new gig probing the Trump administration, reports The Wall Street Journal. Howard Master, who helped lead the CityTime payroll and Sheldon Silver cases, will now work for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman as senior enforcement counsel, focusing on issues relating to the Trump White House and public corruption in general.

  198. 198.

    Brachiator

    @r€nato:

    Looks like it’s time once again for conservatives to temporarily give a shit about sexual harassment and violence against women.

    Conservatives only care if the scandal involves Democrats. Look how silent they have been about the Southern Baptist leader who said that wives should stay the in a marriage with an abusive husband.

    This NY case is horrible. The women appear to be credible. The AG may have serious drinking issues as well. If he thinks he should resign, that’s his call. Otherwise, a full investigation is obviously in order.

  200. 200.

    Mnemosyne

    @debbie:

    Allen was allegedly his biological father and is his legal father, but Mia Farrow has basically said that Ronan’s father was actually Frank Sinatra, with whom she had an affair. It’s a fucked-up family all around.

  201. 201.

    Adam L Silverman

    @B.B.A.: Craig Charles, the lead in Red Dwarf, was accused of rape. He was eventually acquitted at trial.

  202. 202.

    TS (the original)

    Instant call for a democrat to resign. Why is their no call fro Trump to resign?

  205. 205.

    Mnemosyne

    @B.B.A.:

    Oddly, Tucker Carlson. He was able to prove that he was in another state when a woman who was stalking him claimed he assaulted her. I think she ended up in a mental hospital for a few years.

  206. 206.

    Elizabelle

    @debbie: Not so much Soon-Yi as the allegations that Allen assaulted his toddler daughter, Dylan. I don’t believe those; that’s what’s problematic. I kind of thought Mia Farrow cooked up that idea and coached the kids to punish Woody. And it is a fucked up family, as Mnemo says.

  209. 209.

    Adam L Silverman

    @debbie:

    Allen was his step-father.

    ETA: And made off with his underage step-sister.

    Christmas must be a hoot at their house!//

  210. 210.

    debbie

    @Mnemosyne:

    Ah. I assumed by “brother” it was due to Woody having married Ronan’s step-sister.

    Who knew the Upper West Side could be so West Virginia?

  211. 211.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Steve in the ATL:

    SD, it’s been nice having a drinking buddy out here!

    I’ve told you before, am happy to buy you a glass of wine ? if it means the entire conversation is covered by attorney-client privilege.

  212. 212.

    Mnemosyne

    @T S:

    It’s not the worst timing. I feel like we dodged a bullet by having the allegations come out now when there’s time to deal with them before the midterms or any indictments.

    Also, which TS are you?

  213. 213.

    Feebog

    I am moderating a panel on the #metoo movement/sexual harassment next month for an advocate training class. Just a couple observations:

    Multiple women with remarkably similar stories expotentially increase their credibility.

    The connection between alcohol abuse and sexual abuse is well established.

    Schneiderman’s statement is some really weak sauce.

    Yes, these are just allegations at this point, but they are specific, detailed and backed with hard evidence.

    In my view there is clearly some fire under the smoke.

  215. 215.

    Jay

    @Mnemosyne:

    Ronan’s never had a DNA test done, is friendly with the Sinatra’s, and he always responds to the claim he’s Sinatra’s son, with the response that “in some way, arn’t we all?”

    Part of his estrangement from Woody Allen, is that Woody Allen keeps pushing the claims that Ronan’s not his son.

  216. 216.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mnemosyne:

    Mia Farrow has basically said that Ronan’s father was actually Frank Sinatra, with whom she had an affair.

    If by “affair” you mean “married.”

    ETA: What Elizabelle said at #208.

  218. 218.

    Elizabelle

    I wonder if producers are searching for tape of Charlie Rose interviewing Eric Schneiderman. At this very moment.

  219. 219.

    Brachiator

    @debbie:

    Who knew the Upper West Side could be so West Virginia?

    Or maybe worse. Money and power buy a lot of entitlement.

  220. 220.

    Mnemosyne

    @Elizabelle:

    Yep. It doesn’t make Farrow look too great in retrospect to be passing her ex’s baby off as her then-current boyfriend’s.

    @debbie:

    IIRC, Soon-Yi was one of Farrow’s multiple adopted kids from when she was married to André Previn and Ronan is one of her biological kids, along with Dylan. Everyone assumes that Allen is Dylan’s biological father, but at this point, who knows?

  222. 222.

    T S

    @Mnemosyne: Im the one you hate. Not the one who claims original status. You know what, Im going to change from using my initials, since the other one is getting flack from those of you who think you are going after me. Or maybe Im getting his flack….I dont know anymore. I legit thought I was the original, but I dont care to fight it. I guess dont bother blocking THIS username, since Im going to switch to something else anyway. Later ( hopefully not with animosity).

  223. 223.

    T S

    @TS (the original): Hey, Ill switch to something else since initials are lame anyway. Are you TRULY the original though? How many years?

    Did you enjoy getting attacked by people who thought you were me? Sorry bout that.

  224. 224.

    Aleta

    Oh, no !

    From its distinctive blue-and-orange graphic design scheme to its tips on properly reporting phishing scams, Melania’s booklet (“Talking with Kids about Being Online” — part of Melania’s just-unveiled initiative) matches almost entirely word-for-word the FTC’s 2014 pamphlet.

    Nat Wood, the FTC’s associate director for consumer and business education, told VICE News that a version of the pamphlet has been in circulation since 2009. He said that Melania authored a letter at the top of the pamphlet.

    The White House’s website says the booklet is “by First Lady Melania Trump and the Federal Trade Commission.”

  225. 225.

    Mnemosyne

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    They had been divorced for a decade or so and Farrow was involved with Allen when Ronan (originally named Satchel) was born. Can you have an affair with your ex-husband if you’re both married/involved with other people?

    @Jay:

    I thought it was Mia Farrow who publicly made or confirmed the claim fairly recently? Either way, fucked-up family.

  226. 226.

    B.B.A.

    Well, the good news about Albany’s infamously opaque politics is that articles of impeachment can pass both houses in a matter of minutes, should the Three Men In A Room will it so.

  227. 227.

    Adam L Silverman

    @T S: Try to do it when I’m around so I can clear you out of moderation. Otherwise you could get stuck for a while.

  228. 228.

    TenguPhule

    @Aleta:

    From its distinctive blue-and-orange graphic design scheme to its tips on properly reporting phishing scams, Melania’s booklet (“Talking with Kids about Being Online” — part of Melania’s just-unveiled initiative) matches almost entirely word-for-word the FTC’s 2014 pamphlet.

    Nat Wood, the FTC’s associate director for consumer and business education, told VICE News that a version of the pamphlet has been in circulation since 2009. He said that Melania authored a letter at the top of the pamphlet.

    Of course.

    Urge to drink, rising.

  233. 233.

    Shalimar

    @Elizabelle: The primary kid accuser other than Dylan herself was Ronan, who maintains the same story to this day. If he was coached and manipulated, he doesn’t show the anger I would have towards Mia Farrow if she had done that to me.

  234. 234.

    Aleta

    @Mnemosyne: I think Dylan was adopted as a baby. And fwiw, to me there’s a resemblance to Mia’s father in R’s face. I think she might have been messing with someone, or whatever you’d call it, about Sinatra.

  239. 239.

    Shalimar

    @Aleta: I seriously doubt she actually wrote the introductory letter herself either. That said, ghost writers are extremely common for celebrities. I’m not sure why anyone should care. There are plenty of better reasons to dislike Melania.

  240. 240.

    Jay

    @Mnemosyne:

    The Sinatra’s believe that she was making a joke, that got out of hand.

    Still, disfunction junction, but some of the kids are quite accomplished on their own.

  241. 241.

    Quinerly

    @Jay: Mia has said she continueed a sexual relationship with Frank after their divorce and during the Woody years.

  242. 242.

    J R in WV

    @B.B.A.:

    When’s the last time ANYONE accused of any kind of sexual misconduct has been proven innocent?

    It is impossible for anyone to be proven innocent. Proving a negative is logically impossible. This is why our legal system requires proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, rather than requiring the accused to prove their innocence.

    Learn something about legal systems and why they are the way they are. Logically impossible isn’t a trivial bullshit thing, it’s very real, if you know anything about logic. Ask one of the founding fathers…

  244. 244.

    Steve in the ATL

    @J R in WV: and why the criminal justice system uses “guilty” and “not guilty” rather than “guilty” and “innocent”

  245. 245.

    Adam L Silverman

    @T S: Comment as much or as little as you like. I’m obviously missing whatever it is people are upset about. But you have to do what you feel comfortable with.

  246. 246.

    dexwood

    So late to this thread, but gotta say, fuck me naked, consensual, of course. Trump monkeys will be slinging shit in all directions. They are digging into everyone arrayed against him trying to turn the focus away. Once in awhile, they might strike with a bit of truth. Evil, corrupt motherfuckers projecting to deflect, though.
    ETA: did not read through the comments.

  247. 247.

    J R in WV

    @Platonailedit:

    And here you are, telling us how bad the news is.

    Total of about 50 comments, ever, here on B-J. Newbie with no background, no one knows anything about you. I know I don’t trust you with what day of the week it is. If you want to belong here, comment for a few months and let us know who you are before you take this kind of position.

    Else, Shut up and go away, rat-fucker!

  248. 248.

    Mnemosyne

    @Aleta:

    And fwiw, to me there’s a resemblance to Mia’s father in R’s face. I think she might have been messing with someone, or whatever you’d call it, about Sinatra.

    It makes sense that Farrow’s biological son would resemble her father, the kid’s biological grandfather. But he doesn’t seem to resemble Allen very much.

  252. 252.

    Elizabelle

    Out close of business tomorrow. That’s surgical enough for me.

    I would love, love, love to see Preet Bahra join the investigation.

  253. 253.

    Elizabelle

    @Aleta: Very interesting, Mia married someone who resembled, to some extent, her own father.

    Ronan does look like his grandfather.

    I still think he’s Frank’s though. Do you see Woody Allen features in either of Mia’s kids? I don’t, FWIW. No idea what his and Soon Yi’s kids look like; think they’ve kept them pretty much out of the limelight. Checking for photos now …

  256. 256.

    VeniceRiley

    @Steve in the ATL:

    @VeniceRiley: then call me garbage. The republicans ratfucked Dan Rather on a big story too. I’m not saying Schneiderman is not guilty, but we absolutely should not call for him to resign until either we know the facts or he resigns on his own initiative because he knows he’s guilty.

    Welp, that post didn’t age well … for you.

  258. 258.

    Brachiator

    @Feebog:

    Maddow reporting E.S. Has resigned. That was quick.

    Wow. Yep.

    Is there an official Internet term for something that is resolved within a news cycle?

    Now, if we could only get Trump to resign.

  259. 259.

    zhena gogolia

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Yes, but she also has hinted that they were having an affair while she was with Woody Allen, hence Ronan is really Frank’s son although Allen thought he was his at the time. As far as I knew, it was Mia and Ronan Farrow who have pushed this rumor, not Allen.

  260. 260.

    Jay C

    A quick browse through the blogosphere reveals the first green black shoots of RW gloating popping up, but it’s hard to see where this is going to, in the slightly-longer-term seriously, impact the NYS AG’s investigations(s) of the Trump Regime’s criminality. This is an official probe, not some personal vendetta by Eric Schneiderman: that he is having to resign in disgrace is an embarrassment, but unless there is any proof that his investigation, per se, is somehow “tainted” (and there doesn’t seem to be, though I’m sure the usual media gang will doing their best to muddy the water), it’s going to continue. Though hopefully under someone with less personal baggage…..

  262. 262.

    Steve in the ATL

    @VeniceRiley: au contraire. I was exactly right: he resigned because he knew he was guilty rather than resigning because of a witch hunt.

    But nice try.

  263. 263.

    tobie

    I’m late to this thread and shocked at the news. I’ll scroll through to see if anyone posted anything about why the accusers came forward in the last few weeks rather than earlier this year. I gather someone tipped off the NYT. Did the women themselves reach out to the press or did the press contact them. If the latter, this has all the hallmarks of a Roger Stone operation. (It could also be the work of a certain Israeli security firm.)

  265. 265.

    Gvg

    @rikyrah: these women let themselves be named and investigated. Very different than Franken. Unfortunately real abuse is far more common than fake stories. Because of the potential disaster we are all on edge and protective of our side but I don’t think this one is rat fucking. Another time it will be but I do want abuse rooted out too and we also can’t cry wolf too often and maintain credibility meaning if the charges look real we need to let them happen.
    Among our messaging couch quarterbacking I want more pointing out, no group is perfect. But democrats get rid of crooks, liars and kooks. Republican’s cover up.

  266. 266.

    Jay

    @Nicole:

    ”
    In 1979, Farrow began a relationship with film director Woody Allen.[76][77] During their relationship, Farrow starred in some of Allen’s films, and several of her relatives also made appearances.[77] Their relationship ended in 1992, when Allen began having an intimate relationship with Soon-Yi, her adopted daughter who was 22 years old at the time”

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Farrow

    Here after 6 months of co-habitation, you are married. For $50 bucks you can get a piece of paper from the State, that registers the marriage all legal like, or you can spend $50 bucks and then a whole lot more to have a big hoo haw.

    but either way, you are married with all the rights, responsibilities and privleges accorded by law, even LBGTQ people.

  268. 268.

    Nicole

    @Jay: Sure, except that they never lived together. They each had their separate residences across Central Park. Back when we didn’t know Allen was a creep, there was some thing in the papers about how they’d fly a flag out of their respective window if they were home or ready for a visit or some other rich person bullshit I can’t remember.

  269. 269.

    No One You Know

    @Baud: It will distinguish you in politics, but be a disqualifying factor in the tech industry.

Comments are closed.