President-elect Donald Trump, Fox News host Pete Hegseth and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) share a commonality and it isn’t their political affiliation. All three have been accused of alleged sexual violence.
Gaetz and Hegseth were both recently nominated by Trump to hold crucial cabinet positions in the upcoming administration, despite their allegations. Sexual violence allegations against officials holding high standing in politics exacerbate the notion of dismissing survivors and uplifting the accused.
According to the Washington Post, “Gaetz has been accused of engaging in sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl, violating sex-trafficking laws and using illegal drugs.” After being nominated for attorney general in Trump’s cabinet, Gaetz resigned from the Senate, effectively ending the House Ethics Committee’s investigation of his case.
If not further investigated or if the report is not released, the charges that the House Ethics Committee was investigating – and the women who accused Gaetz of sexual misconduct – will be completely ignored. Although resigning from the Senate eliminates Gaetz’s direct political power, it speaks to his control throughout the investigation process. Not all who are accused have the option to resign from their job knowing it will end the investigation.
An NBC News report said, “A woman told police that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, took her phone and blocked her from leaving his hotel room before sexually assaulting her in 2017 after a Republican women’s convention in California.” Hegseth, nominated to be the secretary of defense in Trump’s cabinet, was not charged after the investigation was completed, but many remain skeptical.
The police report was released following his nomination, detailing Hegseth’s alleged acts against the unidentified woman, but it didn’t strain his support base. This reinforces the idea that high social status can shield individuals from backlash and punishment regarding allegations.
According to the Associated Press, “Trump himself has long been accused of abusing or mistreating women and once was caught bragging about grabbing women by the genitals. He was found liable by a New York City jury for sexual abuse and defamation and eventually ordered to pay the woman, E. Jean Carroll, $83 million in damages.”
As a controversial political figure, many individuals who agree with Trump are willing to dismiss survivors by framing their accusations as political attacks or partisan disagreements. His dehumanizing rhetoric surrounding women has been at the forefront of virality, but he doesn’t lose support.
Supporting or voting for Gaetz, Hegseth or Trump – when allegations against them are public knowledge – is a direct reflection of society’s norm of dismissing survivors.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “One in four women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Although less than 5% of sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement, one in five cases reported to police are deemed baseless (by police) and therefore coded as ‘unfounded.’”
Because police and courts have such high power in investigating sexual assault reports, they have the direct ability to ignore survivors with blame techniques and an overall lack of investigation, leading to further dismissal of survivors while uplifting the accused.
Survivors deserve to be heard, believed and supported, not minimized and dismissed. Public officials with ongoing investigations or accusations should not remain in power until the case is fully investigated and proper actions are taken.
By believing survivors and their experiences, justice will be prioritized over power.
Layne Rey is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @laynerey12.
