Lately with Layne: Sexual assault allegations should impact political office

President-elect Donald Trump, Fox News host Pete Hegseth and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) share a commonality and it’s not their political beliefs. All three have been charged with alleged sexual assault.

Gaetz and Hegseth were both recently nominated by Trump to hold crucial Cabinet positions in the incoming administration, despite their allegations. Allegations of sexual violence against officials with high positions in politics reinforce the idea of ​​dismissing survivors and elevating the accused.

According to the Washington Post, “Gaetz has been accused of 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 into his case.

If further investigation is not conducted or the report is not released, the charges the House Ethics Committee was investigating — and the women who accused Gaetz of sexual misconduct — will be completely ignored. While the Senate resignation eliminates Gaetz’s direct political power, it speaks to his control throughout the investigative process. Not all suspects have the option to resign knowing that this will end the investigation.

An NBC News report said: “A woman told police that Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s pick as Secretary of Defense, 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 defense secretary in Trump’s Cabinet, was not charged after the investigation concluded, but many remain skeptical.

The police report was released after his appointment, detailing Hegseth’s alleged actions against the unknown woman, but it did not put pressure on his supporters. This reinforces the idea that high social status can protect individuals from backlash and punishment related to accusations.

According to the Associated Press, “Trump himself has long been accused of abusing or assaulting women and was once caught bragging about grabbing women by the genitals. He was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation by a jury in New York City and was eventually ordered to pay $83 million in damages to the woman, E. Jean Carroll.

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 around women has been at the forefront of virality, but he is not losing support.

Supporting or voting for Gaetz, Hegseth, or Trump – when the allegations against them are public knowledge – is a direct reflection of the societal norm of dismissing survivors.

According to the National Library of Medicine, “One in four women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Although less than 5% of sexual crimes are reported to the police, one in five cases reported to the police are considered unfounded (by the police) and therefore coded as ‘unfounded’.”

Because police and courts have so much power in investigating reports of sexual violence, they have the direct ability to ignore survivors with blame techniques and an overall lack of investigation, leading to further dismissal of survivors while elevating the accused.

Survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and supported, not minimized and dismissed. Government officials with pending investigations or allegations should not remain in power until the matter is fully investigated and appropriate action is taken.

By believing survivors and their experiences, justice will take precedence over power.

Layne Rey is a junior journalism student at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The mail. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @laynerey12.