E. Jean Carroll, Access Hollywood and the sorrows of Billy Bush

A man once observed that female wiring is like an Italian sportscar. If you're not a good mechanic, don't even think about opening the engine.

The notion that another person’s rights end where your nose begins has always seemed a pretty safe rule to live by. Of course, this can be complicated by a myriad of circumstance, but with a woman’s nether region, the center of operations as it were, any unauthorized contact is trespassing. The Access Hollywood tape with Trump’s  claim that his celebrity exempted him from this rule was offensive enough that it briefly destroyed the unfortunate Billy Bush’s world. Admittedly, his idiot comments and foolish smile didn’t help Billy’s case.

As for the ex-President, he can hardly be surprised that the tape came back to haunt him. That it did so with exquisite precision is his own fault. He has no one to blame but himself.

Even with Billy’s chortling at Trump’s outrageous braggadocio, it would be unfair to assume that grabbing a woman’s nether region was a practice which Billy endorsed. And yet, because of his playing up to his guest (Trump), Billy was the guy who went down. He laughed merrily at a vile claim made by someone with whom he was going on camera in a mere matter of minutes. What the rest of us witnessed ten years later elicited shocks of horror and disgust, but something about the condemnation of Billy Bush never seemed entirely just. Particularly when it’s alleged that it was the white women’s vote which won Donald Trump the election.    

At the time, it seemed that if a perp was powerful enough, he would never answer for that kind of behavior. Even if he were running for President.

– WARNING – The following paragraphs contain a plot spoiler –

The 2021 film The Last Duel is an adaptation of Eric Jager’s book of the same title. It involves three different perspectives on sexual assault wherein a woman named Marguerite informs her husband she has been raped. The accused, whose name is Gris, denies her charge, vehemently protesting that there was no rape through to the end of the film.

As far as Gris is concerned, it wasn’t a rape. He refers to what took place as ‘adultery’ i.e. a transgression against Marguerite’s husband, not Marguerite. When Marguerite speaks out, levelling the charge against Gris, her mother-in-law observes, “You have brought shame upon this house.”

When Marguerite objects, the older woman continues, “You look at me as if I were never young. I was raped. And despite my revulsion and my protestations, did I go crying to my lord who had better things to worry about? No. I stood up, got on with my life.”

Which basically was, Spare us the self-pity. That’s just how it works. Get over it. Or words to that effect.

John Wood Sweet’s The Sewing Girl’s Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America recounts the trial in 1793 of Henry Bedlow, who was accused of raping a 17 year old seamstress named, Lanah Sawyer. Rape was a capital offense in those days.

Henry Bedlow

The trial is notable for several reasons, not the least of which was Miss Sawyer’s courage in coming forward. To do so was nearly unheard of at the time. But there was irrefutable proof that Bedlow had forced himself upon her and that she’d resisted. The prosecution presented its case in all solemnity. Luckily, for Bedlow he had a defense team of no less than six attorneys.

Part of the criteria to determine the veracity of the charge included: “Did she have a good reputation? Did she cry out for help when attacked? Did her body bear the signs of physical violence? Did she report the crime while it was still recent?” (John Wood Sweet “The Story the Torn Gown Told” The Commonplace.online2022 http://commonplace.online/article/the-story-the-torn-gown-told/)

The trial lasted a day. After 15 minutes of deliberation, the jury acquitted him.

The Rape of Proserpina, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622

The rape’s lingering trauma led Lanah Sawyer to attempt suicide, but that is not what this paragraph is about. Because afterward, Miss Sawyer’s stepfather came forward and brought a civil case against her assailant, suing Mr. Bedlow for seduction and the subsequent financial losses incurred as a result of this seduction. Miss Sawyer’s stepfather prevailed to the tune of $1800, which was enough to purchase a new house, as well as several more just like it. Bedlow, for his part, was ruined.

Alas, Joe Tacopina’s cross examination of E. Jean Carroll, sadly demonstrated how we haven’t evolved from our history as quickly as we would like.

Yet, with Tuesday’s verdict finding for the plaintiff in E. Jean Carroll vs. Donald Trump, it somehow felt, if only briefly, that -however slowly - things are moving along, that justice does prevail. At least that was the case until Wednesday night’s town hall on CNN.

The New York Times has reported that Ms. Carroll is now weighing her options and whether she should sue the ex-President for defamation yet again.  I for one, hope to heck she does, and that this time, he testifies in front of a jury and claims he didn’t do it.

During my mother’s generation there was a rarely discussed common wisdom that went along the lines of “The world is unjust and there are some men, who given the chance, will most likely hurt you. Don’t be shocked if they attempt to assault you. Short of ending up in the hospital, you’re going to have to get over it.”

In other words, Don’t say anything, because it will ruin your life. It could even destroy your career.  

When she spoke out, that’s what happened to E. Jean Carroll.

She is old enough to be my mother. That she took Donald Trump to court and demanded he be held accountable for both transgressing and then defaming her is breathtaking. Her fearless testimony and her unwavering determination sets an example for the rest of us.

This Sunday, it is my Mother’s Day wish that we might all be brave enough to emulate such courage.

On behalf of her readership, all there is to say is, “Thank you, Ms. Carroll. Thank you very much, indeed.”