# Another one (potentially) bites the dust--Justin Trudeau sexual allegations **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 3, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210 "2018-07-03T02:19:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/21 "2018-07-04T02:27:26Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > And here is fallout from a single, 16-year-old accusation… Context matters. The accusations against Miller were at least somewhat corroborated; these are not. The accusations against Miller actually involved a disciplinary hearing, albeit sealed; these have never been brought publicly. And they came on the heels of a documented criminal assault charge; these do not. As with Keillor, his employer decided to cut him loose because of a pattern of behavior they felt was unsuitable. Are you presenting an argument that the citizens of Canada should do the same here? Because you’ll need to bring more than this. . ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/22 "2018-07-04T18:51:17Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Lol. > Canada is too bland to stir up feelings of hatred Try me, Republican. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/23 "2018-07-04T23:32:41Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Speaking of which, I find it … interesting … that this accusation is being dredged out of the memory hole just when Trudeau is fighting back in Trump’s trade war. Very interesting indeed. If this anecdote from 20 year old past article was being brought up by Canadian rivals why didn’t they try to make it a headline during the election, or wait until the next one? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/24 "2018-07-05T03:28:18Z")
No wonder for their civil service the Byzantines perferred eunuchs. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/25 "2018-07-05T14:12:25Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > 1. And if current standard are applied he is out. An allegation is as good as a conviction. So your saying captain eyebrows is trouble? A while back there was a governmental scandal with the left in Canadian politics which lead to the conservatives winning. I’m just somewhat too familiar with Canadian politics. They have a minority type of government parliamentary type of system. Their four major parties are: Liberal = Tredeau ( perhaps a Me too ) type of politician. Conservative - Harper New Democrat - Not sure how they differ from Liberal Quebec Bloc - Party who fuels separation from Canada. Used to be a spoiler. I will say Canadian leftists seem to have less tolerance for bad behavior of their own, compared to American Leftists. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/26 "2018-07-05T15:13:43Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The normal rules don’t apply to him. I am not certain that the laws of physics do.☹ Good thing he never studied law! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/27 "2018-07-05T16:34:46Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Liberal = Tredeau ( perhaps a Me too ) type of politician. > Conservative - Harper > New Democrat - Not sure how they differ from Liberal… the Liberal Party is, by Canadian standards, centrist. The NDP is very left wing and openly a democratic socialist party. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/28 "2018-07-05T16:58:00Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Apparently some people on this board have never heard of Garrison Keillor, who was fired because of a single accusation. [ **Garrison Keillor: radio station reveals broader claims of sexual harassment** Minnesota Public Radio says Keillor, 75, was accused of dozens of sexually inappropriate incidents over several years](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/24/garrison-keillor-sexual-harassment-allegations) The whole thing about him being fired over just one incident? That was 100% Keillor’s spin on his firing. And he was lying. > [@](#): > > There are other examples here. > [After Weinstein: 71 Men Accused of Sexual Misconduct and Their Fall From Power - The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/11/10/us/men-accused-sexual-misconduct-weinstein.html) That’s a list of 71 names, with scant details about the accusations against them, or the evidence that supported their firing. Maybe pick a few that you think demonstrate unfair treatment, and explain why? > [@](#): > > And here is fallout from a single, 16-year-old accusation. > > [Weinstein effect - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weinstein_effect) Again, what on that page are you referring to? There’s over 200 descriptions of people being fired for sexual assault or harassment on that Wiki page. Which one is the “single, 16-year-old accusation,” that you want to discuss? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/29 "2018-07-09T17:57:36Z")
The formerly anonymous reporter [has spoken out](https://www.npr.org/2018/07/08/627064873/woman-allegedly-groped-by-justin-trudeau-breaks-her-silence). We now know it was Rose Knight, a former reporter for the Creston Valley Advance, the publication that carried the original editorial. > [@NPR](#): > > She said she does not represent a “movement, whether political or otherwise” and that her participation ends here. > > “I did not pursue the incident at the time and will not be pursuing the incident further.” So does this change things much? Does this give the story legs, or increase its importance? Does this give us leave to assume the worst about his behavior at that event 18 years ago? Some salient points from NPR’s reporting: The editorial accused Trudeau of groping and inappropriate handling of the woman reporter. I haven’t seen any statement by Ms Knight about what actually happened. Ms Knight says she had avoided issuing a statement out of privacy concerns, for herself and her family. Trudeau says he apologized “in the moment” because he “perceived that she had experienced it in a different way than I acted or I experienced it.” In that apology he reportedly described his behavior as “forward,” although he has not confirmed using that expression. My conclusion is that we can’t come to a definite conclusion about what happened. The current attention seems at least as unwelcome to Ms Knight as it probably is to Trudeau, which may mean that she has now been a victim twice. If this truly was something dug up by 45’s minions to discredit Trudeau, they have a lot to answer for. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/30 "2018-07-11T00:27:28Z")
So a 27 yo pats a woman on the rump. Big effing deal. My wife absolutely agrees. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/31 "2018-07-11T01:53:52Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Speaking of which, I find it … interesting … that this accusation is being dredged out of the memory hole just when Trudeau is fighting back in Trump’s trade war. He is the Prime Minister. Every moment this could have been dragged out would be an interesting moment. The evidence suggests this will be a passing embarrassment. Trudeau has not handled it super well but the public doesn’t want his head. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/32 "2018-07-11T14:46:11Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > the Liberal Party is, by Canadian standards, centrist. The NDP is very left wing and openly a democratic socialist party. Well, except in the last election, when Tom whassisname tacked the NDP to the centre, heady with dreams of power, and Good-Hair-Boy tacked farther left and actually won power. Personally, I think that was just a quirk of the 2015 election. The NDP dumped Tom and has been going back leftwards. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/33 "2018-07-11T14:59:06Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > A while back there was a governmental scandal with the left in Canadian politics which lead to the conservatives winning. The generic term “the left” doesn’t really work in Canada, given the multiplicity of our parties. I think you’re referring to the sponsorship scandal, which brought down the Liberal government of PM Martin. As **RickJay** says, the Liberals are traditionally a centrist party, tacking now leftwards, now rightwards, according to their read of the mood of the Canadian public. > [@](#): > > I’m just somewhat too familiar with Canadian politics. They have a minority type of government parliamentary type of system. No, we have a parliamentary system which normally results in majority governments, like the British system and unlike the continental European parliamentary systems. PM Trudeau has a majority government, as did his immediate predecessor, PM Harper, from 2011 to 2015. > [@](#): > > Their four major parties are: > > Liberal = Tredeau ( perhaps a Me too ) type of politician. > > Conservative - Harper > > New Democrat - Not sure how they differ from Liberal > > Quebec Bloc - Party who fuels separation from Canada. Used to be a spoiler. There’s also the Green Party, which has one member in the Commons, and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), which also has one MP, due to a “Me too” moment involving an NDP MP who was kicked out of caucus. As well, the Bloc québécois went through a schism earlier this year. The Bloc now has five MPs in the Commons, and Québec débout, composed of Bloquistes who left, also has five MPs. Plus two independent MPs. Oh, and Harper is no longer the Conservative leader. He resigned after being defeated in the 2015 Élection. The current Conservative leader is a guy named Andrew Scheer from Saskatchewan. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/34 "2018-07-11T15:01:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > He is the Prime Minister. Every moment this could have been dragged out would be an interesting moment. > > The evidence suggests this will be a passing embarrassment. Trudeau has not handled it super well but the public doesn’t want his head. He is young popular and very good looking. Half the population is _hoping_ that he smacks their rump. You think if he looked like David Spade he’d get such understanding? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/35 "2018-07-11T15:06:40Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The evidence suggests this will be a passing embarrassment. Trudeau has not handled it super well but the public doesn’t want his head. That’s my take on it as well. I would just add that Trudeau is not very good at handling personal attacks on him. The incident in the Commons, the Aga Khan holiday, this one; he responds with a whiny “why are you picking on me?” tone. He lacks his dad’s ability to say “Yeah, I did it. So fuddle-duddle.” ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/36 "2018-07-11T15:08:22Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That’s my take on it as well. > > I would just add that Trudeau is not very good at handling personal attacks on him. The incident in the Commons, the Aga Khan holiday, this one; he responds with a whiny “why are you picking on me?” tone. > > He lacks his dad’s ability to say “Yeah, I did it. So fuddle-duddle.” How is he compared to Dad? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/37 "2018-07-11T15:44:33Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > How is he compared to Dad? In terms of personality, Trudeau père was an arrogant prick, but with two fundamental principles he worked for throughout his career: 1. Federalism works and Canada is worth fighting for; 2. Patriate the Constitution and entrench fundamental rights. Trudeau fils doesn’t appear to have the prickishness bit; can be arrogant, but whiny arrogant, which is less appealing than Trudeau père’s variant. Fils always gives me the impression he wants to be liked; père would just shrug his shoulders and not care if you hated him. Justin’s key principles seem to be different from his dad’s, probably reflecting the different times. His classic statement was when he was asked why his Cabinet was 50% women, and he said “Because it’s 2015.” That played very well with any female-type person I chatted to. He’s also very committed to a form of liberalism that seems in retreat in a lot of western countries. The Economist did an article on him entitled “The Last Liberal?” Emphasises openness to immigrants, for example. When Canada took in a large contingent of Syrian refugees, he was at the Toronto Airport, welcoming them and handing out parkas (it was the middle of winter). When Trump implemented his entry-ban, Trudeau tweeted right away that Canada believed in welcoming immigrants. If you’d asked me half a year ago, I would have said that I wasn’t sure if he had the spine that père had. My take on that changed after the G7 and tariff issue. I would say he’s got the spine, but he displays it in a more temperate way than père, which is probably a good way to go at the moment. (When Trudeau père heard that Nixon had called him an asshole, his reaction was to shrug and say “I’ve been called worse things by better people,” which was a cutting comment on Nixon’s unimaginative vocabulary and moral failings, all in one epigram. But, didn’t contribute to good relations with the White House.) Oh, and Justin’s a pot-head. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/38 "2018-07-11T17:39:44Z")
When Justin was sworn-in, there was some comment about the different imagery between him and his dad, comparing what they looked like as they walked up the drive of Rideau Hall to meet the Gov-Gen. “Trudeau’s swearing-in was so badass in 1968” > **[Trudeau's Swearing-In Was So Badass In 1968](https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/trudeaus-swearing-in-was-so-badass-in-1968_n_8465128)** > > Cue the "Reservoir Dogs" theme. Compared to this one in 2015: [https://publications.mcgill.ca/reporter/2015/11/trudeau-sworn-in-mcgill-trio-named-to-cabinet/](https://publications.mcgill.ca/reporter/2015/11/trudeau-sworn-in-mcgill-trio-named-to-cabinet/) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/39 "2018-07-11T22:26:33Z")
Hmmm - that HuffPost link is now giving a warning - don’t know why. Try this instead: > **[Trudeau's Swearing-In Was So Badass In 1968](https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/trudeaus-swearing-in-was-so-badass-in-1968_n_8465128)** > > Cue the "Reservoir Dogs" theme. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210/40 "2018-07-11T22:58:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Hmmm - that HuffPost link is now giving a warning - don’t know why. > > Try this instead: > > [Trudeau's Swearing-In Was So Badass In 1968 | HuffPost Politics](https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/11/03/trudeau-swearing-in-cabinet-photo_n_8465128.html) I fixed it in the previous post. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-one-potentially-bites-the-dust-justin-trudeau-sexual-allegations/817210.md?page=3)