The facts about Hillary Clinton and the Kathy Shelton rape case

Washington Post ^ | 10/11/2016 | By Glenn Kessler

[Rusty0604]

While the cases of three women connected to Bill Clinton have been well-litigated in the media, the Kathy Shelton case has attracted much less attention. Until a Newsday reporter informed her in 2008 that Clinton was the lawyer in the case, Shelton had no idea that Hillary Clinton had been involved.

In 1975, Clinton — then Hillary Rodham — was a 27-year-old law instructor running a legal aid clinic at the University of Arkansas ...She has said she was not thrilled with the assignment but felt she had little choice but to take the court appointment

As part of her handling of the case, Clinton filed an affidavit July 28, 1975, requesting that the girl go through a psychiatric examination. “I have been informed that the complainant is emotionally unstable with a tendency to seek out older men and to engage in fantasizing,” Clinton said. “I have also been informed that she has in the past made false accusations about persons, claiming they had attacked her body. Also that she exhibits an unusual stubbornness and temper when she does not get her way.”

Clinton offered no source for the claims.

For a variety of reasons, a plea agreement to a reduced charge was reached.

There is little indication that the outcome of the case would have been much different, no matter the defense attorney, given the mishandling of the evidence and Shelton’s difficulties as a witness. Yet now the exam has become a key part of her story in order to raise funds.

Shelton is a rape victim and until recently has not been in the public eye. However, she chose to appear at Trump’s news conference, and Trump has begun to highlight her story in campaign speeches. ...

[justlurking]

if a defendant admits his guilt to the defense lawyer, the defense lawyer may not permit him to testify that he did not commit the crime.

Does that include a "not guilty" plea?

[Cboldt]

-- Does that include a "not guilty" plea? --

A not guilty plea is taken as a "prove it" challenge, a procedural formality, not as fact testimony.

A defense lawyer who knows his client is guilty makes no ethical lapse by entering a "not guilty" plea.

[justlurking]

A not guilty plea is taken as a "prove it" challenge, a procedural formality, not as fact testimony.

After I posted it, I realized it was a stupid question.

Unless I missed something... defendants aren't sworn in for their arraignment.

[Cboldt]

-- After I posted it, I realized it was a stupid question. --

It wasn't stupid at all. I bet others wonder the same thing. I thought it was a very good question.

[alstewartfan]

There should be one commercial running for Trump to crush the Hillary turnout, and that is an ad explaining the full Kathy Shelton story. WHERE IS THE AD?????

[freeandfreezing]

Shelton’s difficulties as a witness.

That's a pretty ugly thing to say about a 12 year old girl who was violently raped. Democrats like Glenn Thrush are reaching back in time and using the ugly lies that were used to tarnish the victims of rape.

Hey Glenn, did 12 year old Kathy Shelton ask for it? Glenn Thrush should be ashamed of himself.

[Rusty0604]

I agree. All one has to do is watch “Law and Order SVU” and they would know better than to write that. Of course, Hillary said that and worse.