Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Jury orders blogger to pay $8.4 million to ex-Army colonel she accused of rape
The Washington Post ^ | August 11, 2017 | Tom Jackman

Posted on 08/12/2017 7:51:32 AM PDT by ptsal

Col. David “Wil” Riggins, after a highly decorated Army career that included multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was on the verge of promotion to brigadier general in July 2013 when he got a phone call at the Pentagon from the Army’s Criminal Investigative Division to come in for a meeting. Once there, he learned that a blogger in Washington state had just accused him of raping her, when both were cadets at West Point in 1986. An investigation was underway.

Then, Riggins sued Shannon for defamation, claiming that every aspect of her rape claim on the West Point campus was “provably false,” and that she wrote two blog posts and a Facebook post “to intentionally derail [his] promotion” to brigadier general. During a six-day trial that ended Aug. 1, a jury in Fairfax County, Va., heard from both Riggins and Shannon at length. And after 2½ hours of deliberation, they sided emphatically with Riggins, awarding him $8.4 million in damages

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: army; defamation; fairfaxcounty; hangthebitch; hoax; rape; regretsex; usma; virginia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-107 next last
To: ptsal

So it is clear they were in the same West Point class, it is clear she resented him for some reason, wonder what that could be???????????? As all of you know, anyone who can become a general in the US Army is a politician and a player and while they also may know how to fight a war (granted a valuable skill) a lot of sociopaths can achieve high status. So, all of you think she just wanted to derail him for nothing? Or was there a reason, such as she thought he was a horrible human being?

And if he did rape her (as the CID said there was no evidence to corroborate either of their stories) he has now doubly raped her.

Oh well, jury has spoken, justice has been done, right?


21 posted on 08/12/2017 8:33:13 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Old Grumpy

Except that the jury didn’t give her what she deserved. If I understand correctly, she won’t pay anything close to what the jury awarded because punitive damages are limited by law in Virginia and she won’t go to prison.


22 posted on 08/12/2017 8:36:50 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

From the Fund Me; “Susan’s rapist has since sued Susan for defamation, claiming that her story is false and that she should pay him for writing about it. He has already gotten away with the crime; now he wants to silence her forever.” ................................... He’s a rapist, it doesn’t matter if he was never convicted or there never was a trial, HE”S GUILTY! When it comes to rape accusations, “We don’t need no stinking trials”.


23 posted on 08/12/2017 8:38:30 AM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Damn, the tag line disappeared again? Coursors!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Old Grumpy

Au contraire mon frere, she resigned from West Point immediately after the rape. West Point heard what they wanted to hear which was no assault.

I know what the atmosphere was like and while I never had one iota of an issue with sexual harassment, many women did. It was said if a gal said rape they were either gay or lying, because after all, who wouldn’t want to have a romp anytime anywhere with one of America’s finest? I was the JAG responsible for keeping the trainee abuse records and I also prosecuted a rape of a skinny little enlisted girl stupid enough to accept a ride from an E5 who raped her, ripped her jeans and then dropped her off. Oh, no, he said, outraged, I am a married man. Bullshit. Said I. Everyone dropped the ball on her case, from the NCOIC at her barracks where she reported it immediately and no one did anything, to the CID who said they couldn’t find anything.

Her testimony and his impeachment because he was lying on the stand earned him a conviction.


24 posted on 08/12/2017 8:41:34 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: yldstrk

‘she thought he was a horrible human being’ is some type of ‘reason’ in your view?


25 posted on 08/12/2017 8:41:38 AM PDT by GreyHoundSailor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: GreyHoundSailor

Think about it dude, WHY did she think he was a horrible human being?


26 posted on 08/12/2017 8:45:40 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: ptsal

Women have no business attending our military academies.


27 posted on 08/12/2017 8:46:14 AM PDT by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ptsal

I wonder if the MSM will cover this? If this news was publicized, perhaps all the accusations against Fox News men would go away.


28 posted on 08/12/2017 8:47:43 AM PDT by Gumdrop (She made her bed and is now lying in it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Roccus

You are correct: people are hanged; pictures are hung.


29 posted on 08/12/2017 8:48:03 AM PDT by utahagen (but but)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: trisham

Today’s workplace has become a minefield. If someone has an axe to grind with you, and the powers that be are willing to go along with them, they will get you. The allegations can be completely fabricated, it doesn’t matter. Even if you just show up, do your job, and never interact with a co-worker outside of what is minimally required to perform your job, they can still get you on a false allegation.

As a white heterosexual Christian male, I realize that I have a target on my back. I now have the mindset that my coworkers are my enemies, and I don’t joke with my enemies. Yes, I realize it’s not very Christian. But it is a matter of survival. And no; it’s no fun any more.


30 posted on 08/12/2017 8:49:17 AM PDT by henkster (Ask your favorite liberal to take the "Snowflake Challenge.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: ptsal
Look at the eyes.


31 posted on 08/12/2017 8:50:39 AM PDT by Delta 21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yldstrk
it is clear she resented him for some reason, wonder what that could be?

A false rape claim? Pretty much without fail, the reason is that she liked him and couldn't have him. It's a form of envy, and it's extremely common. I don't think there's much reason to beat the bushes for a "why do the bad guys hate us?" reason if someone lies under oath. If she did that, she was the sociopath.

Is it possible he was maybe-somehow not a nice person in some other respect? I don't know, and I don't actually think that's any of my business, or hers.

32 posted on 08/12/2017 8:55:45 AM PDT by SamuraiScot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: henkster

I hear you. Definitely not fun.


33 posted on 08/12/2017 8:57:36 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: SamuraiScot

Oh right, good one, uh huh.


34 posted on 08/12/2017 8:58:45 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: yldstrk
"Or was there a reason?"

Perhaps she sought a justification for a major failure in her life; that is, the failure to successfully complete her West Point education to become a commissioned officer with a career path to higher promotion.

35 posted on 08/12/2017 8:59:18 AM PDT by William Tell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ptsal

Happy for the Colonel, the woman will carry shame the rest of her life for apparently being a jilted woman who carried a grudge all these years. Start writing checks woman.


36 posted on 08/12/2017 9:00:36 AM PDT by Uncle Sam 911
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: William Tell

And, pray tell, the reason her so called false accusation kept him from promotion? Could it bee that a walk back through his personnel record indicated where there was smoke there was fire? Get with it, y’all, read between the lines.


37 posted on 08/12/2017 9:01:35 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I have no opinion on who is innocent and who is guilty.

But I will add this bit of data: The Fairfax County judicial system is unimaginably corrupt. If those in power have no interest in the case then you have a shot at a fair trial. If there is a lot of money involved, or powerful people have an interest in the case, then your odds of a fair trial are miniscule.


38 posted on 08/12/2017 9:02:42 AM PDT by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: trisham

Not to worry. I work in an environment that is about 70/30 men to women. The ladies are just fine. Hard working and fit into the office banter without problems. On the rare occasions a complaint was raised, it is almost always caused by heightened sensitivity due to issues causing problems outside the office. Overall problems are very, very rare.


39 posted on 08/12/2017 9:03:41 AM PDT by Nuc 1.1 (Nuc 1 Liberals aren't Patriots. Remember 1789!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: glennaro

That remains to be seen. I say the truth set her free.


40 posted on 08/12/2017 9:04:40 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-107 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson