'If you don't drop this, Chrissy, they will kill you, your baby, and

[ProgressiveEconomist]

your family.'

Chrissy Mazzeo has accused Republican Gubernatorial candidate Jim Gibbons of sexual assault on October 13th. This story comes out of her live-TV press conference today in Nevada. Also today, Gibbons's wife was accused of perjury on her application for work papers for her undocumented Peruvian nanny. The nanny allegedly was told to "hide in the basement" when the Gibbonses had company. Gibbons is -- or was -- running against "illegal immigration" and for "family values".

See also a story (with pictures) at http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5587342 , and the links at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2475986 .

From http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/oct/25/102510097.html :

Nevada candidate's accuser in assault case goes public

By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, ASSOCIATED PRESS; Today: October 25, 2006 at 15:25:11 PDT

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A woman who says she was assaulted and propositioned by a Republican congressman running for Nevada governor said Wednesday she was physically threatened, pressured - and even offered money - to drop her allegations and change her story. Chrissy Mazzeo, 32, a Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino cocktail waitress, said at an hour-long news conference that the money offer came soon after the alleged Oct. 13 incident from a friend who said she had connections to Rep. Jim Gibbons' gubernatorial campaign. The friend, Pennie Puhek, told Mazzeo to drop the charges against Gibbons, 61, and said she would be paid if she signed a statement changing her account, according to Mazzeo's lawyer Richard Wright.

"There's money in this, you will get money for signing this," Wright quoted Puhek as saying on Oct. 16, adding that a specific amount wasn't mentioned but it was clear the payment would be coming from "the Gibbons party." Mazzeo said Puhek also stated that her life was in danger and "if you don't drop this, Chrissy, they will kill you, your baby and your family."

Gibbons issued a statement saying he did nothing inappropriate and calling the statements by Mazzeo and Wright defamatory and outrageous. He added it was a fabrication to suggest that he or anyone in his campaign "threatened violence or offered money to anyone in an attempt to cover up these allegations." Sig Rogich, Gibbons' top adviser, also denied Mazzeo's claims, saying, "All I can say is, these are just absurd charges." He added that he would cooperate in any investigation - and would even take a polygraph test - "to show this to be what it is - a fabrication."

Puhek, reached by telephone, declined to comment. Mazzeo accused Gibbons of pushing her up against a wall and propositioning her in a parking garage near a restaurant-bar where they had met earlier in the night. Gibbons, in statements to police and at a news conference with his wife last week, said he walked Mazzeo the garage, caught her when she tripped and walked away. Both Mazzeo and Gibbons, a five-term congressman from Reno, told police they had been drinking. Gibbons had been with Rogich and other supporters and Mazzeo had been with Puhek at the bar. Puhek bought drinks for the Gibbons party and the two women then joined the group. Mazzeo chose not to press charges the next day, shortly after Gibbons was interviewed by police for the first time. She did not recant her story, but told police she did not want to "go up against" a congressman.'

[alittlelark]

1. I listened to the 9-11 calls....

She was drunk, scared, and sounded way too real.

I respect her for standing up against him. She has everything to lose and nothing to gain.

[cui bono]

2. k & r

[Mythsaje]

3. Holy shit...

This is another big Repug screwup. Big time.

[Canuckistanian]

4. She did not recant her story

That's an important point here. She just chose (for obvious reasons) not to press charges.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

5. Will ABC World News Tonight finally broadcast this story?

About 15 minutes ago, ABC News posted a story over the byline of an on-air correspondent, Bill Redeker. Does this mean the Gibbons-Mazzeo story is about to become a national feeding frenzy.?

From http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=2608490 :

"Nevada Governor's Race Gets 'Flirty and Dirty''He said, She Said' Tale of GOP Candidate Isn't Staying in Las Vegas

By BILL REDEKER

Oct. 26, 2006 „ "What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas." Right? Not if you're a politician running for the highest office in the state. That's what Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons, who is campaigning for governor of Nevada, has learned.

In a classic case of "he said, she said," Nevada newspapers and television stations have embarked on a political feeding frenzy. And it's getting nasty. Or as one individual described the events leading up to an emerging scandal in the race, "flirty and dirty." ... Gibbons denies it. He told reporters at a news conference that he was walking Mazzeo to the parking garage to find her vehicle when she slipped and he grabbed her arm to keep her from falling. He said she only looked at him, said nothing, and walked away.

"I was not stumbling. I did not trip. I did not need help off a wet pavement," Mazzeo said in a news conference she called Wednesday. The two also disagree over how much each imbibed on the evening in question. Both have claimed they each had only a couple glasses wine; each has accused the other of drinking much more.

Had enough, yet? It gets seamier. ..."

[colonel odis]

6. were there security cameras in the parking lot?

[shimmergal]

8. Apparently the security cameras were turned off,

or so they say. The garage proprietors "won't comment."

[althecat]

9. Police report says cameras there but none recording anything

Its worth noting that in her statement however Chrissy says there were cellphone pics taken of the table.

[colonel odis]

10. riiiiiiight

[althecat]

7. That is some seriously compelling video...

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5587342

The Press Conferences in full...

Chrissy (the victim)
Gibbons (the perp)
The Sheriff
The Perp's lawyer...

The internet at its very best.

Check out the Gibbons press release in particular and the stapled on grin on his wife's face. Is she the grandmother one wonders?

The perp's lawyer in particular comes across as a complete creep.