MARKET WATCH COLUMNIST
“For the Accuser, the DA Takes Her Time,” Ellis Henican Sunday Column, Newsday, September 20, 2009
Will the false accuser be charged?
Four men she called her rapists were.
Will she be widely named in the media? Their names were blasted everywhere.
Does she now face prison time?
The four young men accused of raping a Hofstra freshman faced 25 years in prison for a crime they did not commit.
So what now?
Shouldn’t there be some consequences for falsely accusing someone of a terrible crime? Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice isn’t rushing in that direction.
There are reasons, good reasons, for dealing sensitively with the victims of sex assault. But what should happen when the accuser lies?
If rape is one of the most horrible experiences imaginable, isn’t being falsely accused of it close behind?
On Thursday, when she revealed her high-profile gang-rape prosecution had just fallen apart on her, DA Rice didn’t seem in much hurry to address that side of the case.
Asked by reporters if the accuser would be charged, she said only: “The investigation is continuing.” Even then, Rice wouldn’t say the accuser’s name out loud.
Maybe in a couple of weeks, the district attorney added, she’ll have more information – a whole lot longer than it took them to charge four young men with rape.
MOTORMOUTH
1. Kayne: Snatch Taylor’s moment
2. Ernie: Say “pluck”
3. ACORNers: Give brothel advice
4. Serena: Emote to the line judge
5. Admadinejab: Rewrite history
RE-BURBS: On Wednesday, Tom Suozzi will reveal his bold new vision for Nassau County, a vision designed to transform America’s original bedroom community into somewhere that young, single adults might actually choose to live. But the county exec is already trying to soothe the concerns of old-timers who might get jittery at such talk. Look at what Suozzi is calling his forward-looking plan: “Reimagining Suburbia: The 90-10 Solution,” the 90 referring to the 90 percent of the county that can stay just like it is. He’s making sure people understand: Most of Nassau County won’t change, even as more apartments and condos give the Island’s young adults a way to keep living here. Chill, Pops!
ASKED AND UNANSWERED: Is Madoff’s $8.75-million Montauk mansion proof? At least a few of his assets had actual value! . . . The good news: Unemployment’s lower here than in the city. The bad news? 7.3 percent (down from 7.4 in July) is still a 16-year August high . . . Congrats to Brookside Elementary (Baldwin), Centre Avenue School (East Rockaway), Lakeville School (Great Neck) and William Sidney Mount School (Stony Brook) for being named U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools. So how ’bout some celebratory grants from the Pabst folks? “PBR Hall”? Think of the sidestream attention they just got . . . Is Sue Simmons quietly smiling this weekend? Ernie “Chicken Man” Anastos now gets the award for Most Embarrassing On-Air Anchor Slip . . . Campus violence? Spurned-suitor violence? Workplace violence? Why is it so important for authorities to categorize the murder of Annie Le? This one may fall in several categories at once . . . From a tiny acorn shall grow a mighty oak: So what can grow from an ACORN with 1,200 chapters, 400,000 members, $53 million in federal funds and some very creative small-business advice? A lot of trouble, right? . . . Reviewing Radames Santiago’s crazy Facebook threat of a local campus “Virginia Tech attack,” aren’t St. John’s officials glad he seems more boastful than efficient? . . . Instead of “The Jay Leno Show,” would this have been a more Jay-worthy name: “The My-Demo-Getting-Too-Old-to-Stay-Up-‘Til-11:30 Show”?
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