Posted on 01/10/2012 7:19:24 AM PST by SmithL
Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi voted on hundreds of bills last September. She returned to the Capitol last week as leader of a powerful committee.
In between, her lawyer says, a benign brain tumor affected her judgment and contributed to a shoplifting arrest.
The Castro Valley Democrat declined Monday to discuss the brain tumor, when it was diagnosed, or what role it played when she walked away from a Neiman Marcus without paying for nearly $2,500 in clothing – a pair of leather pants, a black skirt and a white blouse.
Hayashi's attorney, Douglas Rappaport, said Friday that a brain tumor impaired her decision-making but that it is being treated with medication and no longer affects her.
Medical experts said Monday that it is very rare, however, for a brain tumor that does not require surgery to influence behavior so significantly.
In Hayashi's Alameda County district, not everyone is buying the explanation.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
You got that right.
Any Republican who had done the same crime would have been crucified for same.
But since she’s a good Democrat, all is forgiven, because she has an excuse.
IMHO you could have left off the word still ....
In general, I’m skeptical of the excuses for crime, but I’m more sympathetic to this one. It is entirely possible for a brain tumor to cause uncharacteristic behavior. Particularly with a politician who is used to stealing being legal at work, it’s a small step to think it’s okay in a store too.
Will voters re-elect her? Or will the fact that she’s a good Democrat override the judgement of voters? Will she face a primary challenge, or would any potential Democrat challengers in a primary be afraid of raising the issue, because she has such a good excuse of her brain tumor to explain what happened?
I may get flamed for posing that question, but, it will be in the minds of people. Is she really ill with this tumor, or did it make an excuse for her to get out of the consequences of her crime?
LOL. Does the lawyer expect anyone to believe this BS? I guess it explains her votes on spending bills though. Every Dem in the CA legislature must have a brain tumor to continue to vote to spend money they don't have and shoplift from the taxpayers.
The only difference between a thief and a klepto is one’s party affiliation.
Completely beyond the pale Unless she releases her medical records proving her claims, she’s a damn, filthy liar.
Shoplifting clothes from a store and stealing money from taxpayers is part of a pattern of behavior. She is just a liar and a thief. Or to put it more simply, she is just a Democrat.
No proof, no sympathy.
A pair of pants, a skirt and a blouse and it only cost $2,500? Democrat politicians - they know what it means to suffer.
So lying is a medical condition?
A very good friend of our family fell and the result was brain swelling and minor brain damage. After wards he would sometimes walk into the local grocery store and steal gum, mints, razors and things he didn’t need and could easily afford. Being a small town where everyone knew everyone the grocery store began to send a monthly bill to his wife and she would take care of it. He died a year later.
Now, she’ll also get sympathy votes in her reelection bid.
The fact that she’s a democrat speaks volumes about her judgement, her mental abilities...and...of course, her morals.
SHE’S A VICTIM!
Given proof in court of a brain tumor, I would let this go. One time only. After being caught, she needs to find a way of keeping it from happening again, or I lose patience with the excuse, but I've seen the effects of a brain tumor, and they are real.
That was my thought...she stole three items of clothing, all of which she no doubt tried on and fit well, from a top store for a cost of $2500. Surely, if her brain condition turned her into a uncontrollable klepto, she’d be just as happy stealing a $1.95 lipstick from CVS, or a size 22 pair of panties. Be suspicious of kleptos that are only affected when shopping in the best stores, with top end merchandise.
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