If Sen. Ron Johnson Won’t Defend the Indefensible, How Does He Justify His Own Record on Sexual Assault Issues?
Record Includes Failing to Report Assault of Staff Person to Authorities, Dismissing Claims of Victim of Harassment and Voting Against Violence Against Women Act
Ron Johnson
MADISON Wis. — Attempting to deflect questions about why he is still endorsing Donald Trump for President after he bragged about sexually assaulting women with impunity and numerous women have come forward to report Trump assaulted them, Sen. Ron Johnson declared he was, “not going to defend the indefensible.” One Wisconsin Now Research Director Jenni Dye challenged Johnson to defend his own record on sexual assault issues.
“Sen. Johnson has shown he’s going to stand by Donald Trump, despite mounting evidence his endorsed presidential candidate is a sexual predator,” commented Dye. “While he claims he won’t defend Trump’s behavior the question is, can he defend his own?”
Dye pointed to numerous incidents involving Johnson that call into question not only his judgment but also whether or not he even recognizes that sexual assault and sexual harassment are serious issues, including:
Ron Johnson Did Not Inform Law Enforcement After Being Told by Staff Member of Her Assault
“U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, his chief of staff and a Waukesha County GOP official were all told three years ago of allegations that a then-aide to the senator had been sexually assaulted by state Rep. Bill Kramer, but none of them took the matter to the police or Assembly leaders.”
“Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson is not buying fellow Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s recent claim that she was subject to sexual harassment and fat-shaming within the hallowed halls of the Senate. He’s not buying it at all. On the NewsmaxTV show The Steve Malzberg Show, Johnson addressed Gillibrand’s remarks, saying that if she actually had been harassed, she should be able to name names. He simply cannot just take her word for it.”
Johnson Voted Against the Violence Against Women Act
“In a statement Wednesday, GOP Sen. Ron Johnson said he voted against re-authorizing the Violence Against Women Act because it contained “serious flaws,” including an “unconstitutional expansion of tribal authority. Johnson was one of 22 senators – all Republicans – who voted Tuesday against re-authorization of the law, which offers protections and aid to victims of domestic violence.”
She concluded, “Sen. Johnson may be trying to run from the conduct of the candidate he’s supporting for president, but he can’t hide from his own record. By failing to report crimes to the authorities, dismissing the experiences of victims of harassment, and voting against laws that help protect women from violence he’s contributed to a culture in which the disgusting behavior of Donald Trump was able to span decades without being stopped. And that is also indefensible.”
One Wisconsin Now is a statewide communications network specializing in effective earned media and online organizing to advance progressive leadership and values.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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Senator Johnson cannot defend his own inaction on a # of issues because he appears to believe that inaction is a virtue. Consider his refusal to give a hearing to President Obama’s nominee for Supreme Court Justice. He continued during the second debate with Russ Feingold last night to claim that his inaction on that issue was due to waiting to hear the voice of the people in the now imminent presidential election – after Feingold had explained that the people had spoken in 2012 that they wanted Obama to be our president until 2017.
Johnson also incredulously remarked during that debate that “the obstructionists in the U.S. Senate were Democrats” – knowing that Mitch McConnel & co. had stated their primary goal during Obama’s inauguration to make him a one term president.