Or maybe just a typical hormonal man, which BTW when you have a public persona you should already know you can't be
Hon. Dr Michael Misick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), might
be guilty of many crimes, but, according to a credible witness statement, rape
is not one of them. No doubt you recall the sensational allegation of rape an
American woman filed against Premier Misick last March. And, no doubt, few
people believed him when he issued the following denial: “I strongly and
categorically deny these false and outrageous allegations... I am confident that
I will be completely and fully exonerated.”However, the signed statement of another woman -- whom I shall refer to only by her first name, Vanessa -- tends to corroborate the Premier’s denial. Not least because she claims to have not only witnessed but also participated in the sexual acts that gave rise to the allegations. Specifically, Vanessa states that she and the Premier began a sexual relationship in Paris sometime in February. Further, that she was a houseguest at his residence in TCI on March 28 when the alleged rape occurred. She confirms that the Premier’s wife, First Lady LisaRaye, was traveling at the time. Vanessa states that the Premier threw a party at which “everyone was having a good time drinking and singing and going into the pool.” And that at some point, just she and the Premier’s accuser – whom I shall refer to only by her first name, Cynthia - ended up in the pool together.
Vanessa states that after a little girl talk, Cynthia suggested they get naked. She notes here that fellow partiers “Mike Pernod and Andrew Ashcroft walked by the pool at one point and saw them but left after saying hello.” Vanessa states that Cynthia then “surprised” her with a kiss on the lips. And that they then proceeded to engage in lesbian sex acts that “went on for a long time.” Vanessa states that at some point the Premier arrived and saw them in flagrante delicto. Further, that she invited him to join in the fun and that he took off his clothes and jumped right in. At this point, she claims that their ménage-a-trois involved her having “sexual contact even while Cynthia was having sexual intercourse with the Premier.” Vanessa states, more to the point, that: “...at no time during their sexual encounter did she hear any complaints from Cynthia....”
Vanessa then states that after a while, they “all agreed to continue inside the guesthouse,” but soon they all fell asleep. Vanessa states that she heard the Premier get up and leave the next morning. And that when Cynthia finally got up Vanessa “asked how she was feeling and started to talk about all the sex with her and the Premier.” Vanessa states that she was “very hurt” when Cynthia became “uptight and agitated”; especially when Cynthia insisted that: “...she didn’t remember anything about that and she has a boyfriend and... she doesn’t do that...”
Vanessa ends her statement by noting that “the Premier along with Ashcroft came
to the guesthouse” later that morning. And that after pleasantries, during which
“Cynthia didn’t say anything” to the Premier about being raped, Ashcroft drove
her to her hotel at Nikki Beach. And that’s the material thrust of her
statement!(Incidentally, I have omitted the more pornographic parts of her statement in the interest of public decency.) Of course, acquaintance rape (or date rape) is notoriously difficult to prosecute – as the prosecutor in the
William Kennedy Smith case can readily attest. But this is because such “she
said, he said” cases rarely have eyewitness testimony that can corroborate
either the allegation of the accuser or the denial of the accused. In this case,
I can’t imagine any prosecutor filing charges, let alone winning a conviction,
against the Premier given Vanessa’s statement. Moreover, it renders waiting for
FBI forensic evidence a complete waste of time since any finding would be
entirely consistent with consensual sex. Which brings me to TCI Attorney General
Kurt Defreitas; because TCIanders have been waiting anxiously for over five
months for AG Defreitas to either charge the Premier or announce that there is
insufficient evidence to do so. Moreover, I believe there is not only compelling
public interest in putting this matter to rest, but also a categorical
imperative to remove the cloud of suspicion from our Premier if prosecuting him
has virtually no prospect of success. That said, I am acutely mindful of
widespread suspicion that the Premier paid off Cynthia (with either millions of
US dollars or acres of Crown land) to recant her allegations. And I appreciate
that many will immediately suspect that he paid Vanessa to provide this
exculpatory statement as well. However, the problem with these suspicions is
that, even if true, the alleged payoffs would expose the Premier only to charges
for witness tampering and obstruction of justice. Because they would also
fatally compromise any indictment against him for rape since Cynthia’s
credibility as a victim, having accepted the payoff, would be irremediably
impeached. Accordingly, I urge AG Defeitas to quell the fury of speculation over
this rape case by issuing an immediate statement either assuring the public that
there is just cause to continue the investigation, or conceding that there is
not. In addition, it behooves him to indicate if Vanessa’s statement has already
been factored into the investigation, or if it constitutes newly discovered
evidence which might finally compel him to drop the allegations against the
Premier - as I believe justice now demands. That said, I also feel obliged to
urge AG Defreitas to re-examine his decision not to prosecute the Premier on
assault and obstruction of justice charges stemming from his alleged assault of
Mr. Arthur Robinson MP last year. Because I believe there is (was?) sufficient
(direct and circumstantial) evidence in that case to convict him. Not to mention
that, arguably, there is more compelling public interest in holding the Premier
to account for his alleged assault of Robinson than for his alleged rape of
Cynthia.NOTE: I am reliably informed that members of the Commission of Inquiry
into government corruption in the TCI are currently conducting extensive
forensic investigations into the business and banking activities of government
officials and other suspect individuals. Furthermore, that this phase of the
Inquiry will continue for several more weeks -- at which time select
individuals will be invited to give oral testimony. But bear in mind that this
Commission will have access to all of the evidence TCIslanders submitted to the
UK Foreign Affairs Committee a few months ago.
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