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Josh Duggar Moves to Exclude Past Molestation Scandal from
Upcoming Child Porn Trial
Josh Duggar is set to stand trial in Arkansas on Nov. 30 after being charged with
receiving and possessing child sex abuse material
By Ally Mauch, Peoples
November 08, 2021 04:57 PM
Josh Duggar's legal team has filed a motion to exclude the reality star's past molestation scandal from his upcoming child sex abuse material trial.
Duggar, 33, has been charged with receiving and possessing child sex abuse material. He pleaded not guilty following his April arrest and was released pending the Nov. 30 trial.
However, the criminal proceeding is not Duggar's first legal controversy. In May 2015, the 19 Kids and Counting alum apologized for his "wrongdoing" after a 2006 police report revealed that he had been investigated as a teen for inappropriately touching five underage girls. His sisters Jill, 30, and Jessa, 29, subsequently stepped forward as two of the victims.
Months later, in August 2015, Gawker reported that the oldest Duggar son appeared to have had active accounts on Ashley Madison, a website created to facilitate cheating on your spouse. He ultimately confessed to having a pornography addiction and cheating on wife Anna Duggar in a statement on the Duggar family website.
Last week, the prosecution in his current case provided a notice to the defense that they may introduce evidence of Duggar's 2000s molestation scandal in the trial.
"If introduced, the government anticipates that the evidence will consist of testimony that the defendant was investigated for, admitted to, and received counseling for touching and sexually molesting multiple minor females," the notice, obtained by PEOPLE, reads.
It goes on to cite a previous case in which it was determined that a history of similar acts in child molestation cases "shows an unusual disposition of the defendant—a sexual or sado-sexual interest in children—that simply does not exist in ordinary people."
"In fact, the prior child molestation offense is similar to the charged conduct in this case in at least one critical way—both offenses involve minor female victims—which only enhances the relevance and probative value of this proffered evidence," the document says. "Nor is the prior child molestation conduct so old as to render it unfairly prejudicial in the instant case."
The defense filed a response later the same day, noting that the past allegations "are more than 18 years old, allegedly occurred at a time when Duggar was a minor, and never led to any charges or convictions."
"The existence of juvenile allegations—which did not lead to charges, much less convictions—does not have any tendency to make it more or less likely that Duggar committed the crimes with which he presently stands accused," the response says. "Specifically, an allegation concerning alleged conduct by Duggar as a juvenile sheds no light on whether Duggar knowingly received or possessed alleged child pornography on three days in 2019 as the indictment alleges."
Lawyers for Duggar did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
The prosecution also filed a separate motion last week to introduce Duggar's 2015 apology statement, which read, "I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this has become an addiction."
The motion argues that the admission of an "addiction to online pornography" provides useful context, as well as "a total picture of the charged crimes."
Again, the defense moved to exclude this evidence, writing, "Whether Duggar allegedly characterized himself as being 'addicted' to viewing adult pornography or being unfaithful to his wife is entirely irrelevant."
The judge presiding over the case has not yet ruled on the matters of Duggar's past scandal or his 2015 statement.
Duggar has been accused of downloading files depicting child sex abuse on May 14, 15 and 16 of 2019 on the computer at his then-workplace, a used car lot in Arkansas.
Per the new filings, the government anticipates that during the trial, Duggar will attempt to argue that he was not the one who used the computer for the alleged illegal activities.
As such, prosecutors have additionally asked that the court allow them to subpoena bank records and other evidence that they say will prove that one of the witnesses who could have potentially used the computer was out of state at the time of the downloads. The judge granted their request on Monday.
Duggar's trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30, with a pretrial hearing set for Nov. 18.
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NFL star Dalvin Cook claims ex-girlfriend held him at gunpoint
as pair trade abuse allegations
10 Nov, 2021 14:14
Minnesota Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook claims that his former partner broke into his house and held him and guests at gunpoint for several hours last year as he counters claims of assault, battery and false imprisonment.
US media report that Cook, 26, had been named in a lawsuit as having allegedly assaulted a former girlfriend during a heated confrontation in his home in November of last year, with the player being hit with a string of allegations per court documents observed by Minneapolis' Star Tribune.
However, the developing story took a dramatic turn when Cook's legal representative, Dave Valentini, alerted the media to his client's side of the story and alleged that the woman in question, Gracelyn Trimble, a sergeant in the US Army, had assaulted Cook and later tried to extort the NFL player for millions of dollars.
According to the lawsuit, Trimble had flown to Cook's residence with the intention of ending their relationship and retrieving her personal belongings before their confrontation turned violent.
Per the reports, she has accused Cook of giving her "a concussion, leaving a scar on my face and taking me through hell". The lawsuit further alleges that she used mace on Cook before going into his bedroom to retrieve a gun and calling a personal friend for help.
She added that Cook attacked her with a broomstick and that he repeatedly threatened to kill her while pointing a gun at her head.
Per NFL.com, photos included with the lawsuit showed screen-shots of a text message exchange between the two in which Trimble wrote: "Dalvin My [sic] face is so messed up I probably won't even get to go see my family for thanksgiving [sic]."
Cook responded: "And I'm sorry for that! But the situation just got out of hand from the jump."
When she returned to Florida after the incident she told medical personnel that she had sustained the injuries in an ATV accident and failed to mention any details of the alleged confrontation.
However, the version of events put forward by Cook and his legal team makes for drastically different reading.
Per Valentini, Trimble is alleged to have used a stolen garage door opener to illegally enter his residence at which point she attacked Cook and a houseguest with mace, while also forcing the player and other guests to remain at the scene at gunpoint. Subsequent reporting has indicated that one of the people attacked was Cook's cousin.
Valentini has also alleged that Trimble has been attempting to extort Cook for millions of dollars in the months which followed.
The Minnesota Vikings have acknowledged the reports with a statement: "We recently received notification from Dalvin Cook’s legal representative regarding a situation that occurred between Dalvin and a female acquaintance in November 2020 and led to an ongoing dispute between the parties.
"Upon learning of this, we immediately notified the NFL. We are in the process of gathering more information and will withhold further comment at this time."
The NFL, meanwhile, said that it has been notified of the allegations and has declined to comment further.
Cook was selected by the Vikings with the 41st pick of he 2017 NFL Draft and to date has scored 40 touchdowns in 51 games for the team.
Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell speaks to press
for first time since arrest
14 Nov, 2021 21:36
Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who faces a possible life sentence for her involvement with the pedophile millionaire, has spoken out for the first time about her conditions in prison, claiming she has been abused.
Speaking to the Daily Mail from her cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, Maxwell called her incarceration a “living hell,” claiming she had been kept in solitary confinement, deprived of sleep, and fed rotten food.
“I have been assaulted and abused for almost a year and a half,” she said. She further alleged she was not allowed to exercise or have the lights in her cell turned off, saying she was “weak” and “tired.” She also said she no longer showers, as “creepy” guards would stare at her while she did.
The Daily Mail noted in its report that Maxwell appeared noticeably skinnier than in the past, with her cheeks “sunken” and her skin “pale.”
She said she has been constantly threatened with disciplinary actions for minor infractions, and her mail and legal paperwork have been “tampered with.”
“I was given a pat-down so aggressive and violent, my underwear found itself in a place it doesn't belong. The first underwear they gave me were enormous granny pants. You could have put five of me in them. I'll spare you descriptions of the stains,” she alleged about the guards in the New York prison.
The former socialite, who has palled around with everyone from Bill and Hillary Clinton to Prince Andrew, also described, however, creating meal plans for some guards and even playing “peek-a-boo” with them.
“I play peek-a-boo, hiding behind pillars and the guards join in. There are always smiles all round,” she said. “Then I have a ‘monster move’ where I raise my hands and growl and they do it back. We laugh.”
Maxwell has been accused of abusing and providing young girls for the late Epstein, who was facing charges of sex trafficking minors when he was found hanged in his cell in August of 2019. Maxwell was taken into custody by the FBI the following year. If convicted, she could spend the rest of her life imprisoned.
She has denied any wrongdoing, but told the Daily Mail her jury pool has been biased against her due to negative media coverage and her being described as a “socialite” and “madame” for Epstein. She also said she has been unable to prepare for her trial, and been given evidence too late in some cases.
“I look forward to finally having my day in court to prove I played no part in Epstein's crimes,” Maxwell, who dated Epstein in the past, insisted. “I am innocent.”
Right, and I'm Santa Claus!
Maxwell has been denied bail multiple times, and her trial begins on November 29 after the jury has been selected.
‘Very, very scary’: Female tennis ace ‘disappears’ days after
accusing ex-Chinese Communist Party chief of sexual assault
14 Nov, 2021 13:46
Campaigners and concerned fans are pleading with tennis bosses to help after the reported disappearance of a tennis star who accused China's former vice premier of trying to force her to have sex with him.
In a lengthy, troubling open letter to the politician published on Chinese social media network Weibo last week (3rd story on link), former world number 14 Peng Shuai said that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) member Zhang Gaoli had made her "afraid" when he allegedly took her to his home years after she claimed they first had sex.
The 35-year-old alleged that she refused to have sex with the 75-year-old as part of what she claimed was a bizarre, manipulative relationship that made her feel like a "soulless creature" and "embarrassed".
Despite alleging that Zhang had been worried she would use a recording device when they were together, Peng admitted she did not have any evidence of what she said had happened.
Now her post has disappeared and the former French Open doubles champion is said to have vanished.
A campaign is building on social media to find out what has happened to Peng, with many fearful fans arguing that the WTA, tennis leaders and high-profile voices within the sport are not doing enough to help track her down.
French player Alize Cornet joined the 'where is Peng Shuai?' hashtag and urged: "Let's not remain silent."
Using all capital letters, professional player Kennedy Shaffer asked: "Why aren't more people talking about Peng Shuai right now? This needs so much more attention."
A Chinese feminist activist shared a photo from an unverified source that purportedly showed an empty space where a picture of Peng had been hung to recognize her achievements at China's National Tennis Center.
"Peng Shuai's portrait was removed less than a week from her exposing former CCP high level official Zhang Gaoli's sexual assault," they added. "We are concerned about Peng Shuai's safety and wellbeing."
Although the 'me too' movement of speaking out about sexual abuse has been visible in China, reports say this is the first time that a high-ranking member of the CCP has been at the center of such claims.
A spokesman for China's foreign ministry refuted any knowledge of the situation, according to reports.
MailOnline, which reported that the post containing the allegations was taken down within 20 minutes, said that Peng's profile remained visible in Google but comments on all of her posts had been disabled.
The outlet also said that an error message about violations of 'relevant laws and regulations' appeared when an attempt was made to post about Peng or Zhang on Weibo.
Peng called herself a "hypocrite" and a "very, very bad woman" in what appears to have been a fiercely self-critical post, according to a translation.
"About three years ago, Zhang Gaoli vice president, you retired," she is said to have written, alleging that Zhang asked to play tennis with her in Beijing shortly afterwards.
"After we finished playing tennis, you and your wife, Kang Jie, brought me to your home.
"Then you took me into your room. Like what happened ten years ago in Tianjin, you wanted to have sex with me.
"That afternoon, I was very afraid. I did not expect this to happen... because nobody would believe that a wife would allow this.
"About seven years ago, we had sex. Then later on, after you got promoted to be a member of the Politburo Standing Committee in Beijing, you never contacted me again.
"That afternoon I didn't agree, and I kept crying. I had dinner with you and [Kang Jie] together.
"You said the universe is very very big. The earth is merely a speck of sand in the universe, and us human beings are smaller than even a speck of sand.
"You said a lot more than that, and the purpose was basically to persuade me to drop my guard. After dinner, I was still not willing to have sex.
"You said you hated me. You said in those seven years, you never forgot about me, and you will treat me well etc... I was terrified and anxious.
"Taking into consideration the affection I had for you seven years ago, I agreed... yes, we had sex [at the time]."
Peng said she had "renewed my love" for Zhang after they initially had sex, alleging that he was "very good" to her and claiming that he had educated her on history, economics and politics, as well as singing together and playing games including chess, table tennis, pool and tennis.
"We always had endless fun," she said. "It was as if our personalities fit perfectly together.
"On the inside, I am extremely deprived of love. In the middle of all of this, I never thought I was a good woman. I hated myself, I hated why I came to this world.
"You told me you loved me very, very much, and you said you hope in the next life, we can meet each other around the age of 20, or 18.
"You said you were lonely. You pitied yourself for being alone. We had endless things to talk about, never ran out of topics. You said in your position, it is impossible to divorce."
Zhang gradually introduced "so much unfairness and humiliation" into the relationship, Peng alleged, claiming that his wife "said so many ugly and hurtful things to me."
"When you were with me, she never said those things," she wrote. "It is similar to when we were together.
"When we were together alone, you acted one way, but when there were other people near by, you would act another way.
"I have told you this before, hearing those things made me feel very hurt and humiliated deep down.
"Since the first day when I knew you, I have never used a cent of your money, neither have I ever used you to obtain any benefits for myself, but this thing called reputation, is so important.
"Everything that has happened, I deserve it. I have brought everything upon myself.
"From the beginning to the end, you told me to keep our relationship a secret, and most importantly of all, I was to never tell your mom we were having sexual relationships.
"There were so many times where I thought, am I still a human? I thought I was a soulless creature, faking everyday.
"Which one is the real me? I shouldn't have come to this world, but I don't have the courage to die.
"You played with me and dumped me when you are done with me. You said there were no transactions between us.
"Yes, that is true: our affection towards each other had nothing to do with money or power. But I have a hard time finding closure for, and coming to terms with our three-year long relationship.
"You were always scared I would secretly bring a recording device, and leave evidence.
"That's right: other than me, I do not have any evidence to prove what happened, no audio recording, no video taping. The only thing I have is memory from my own messed up self.
"For someone as prominent as yourself, I know you said you are not afraid. But it doesn't matter if I'm hitting a rock with an egg, or being a moth that flies towards the flame, I am telling the truth about what happened between us.
"With your intelligence and wits I am sure you will either deny it, or blame it on me, or you could simply play it cool."
A fan on social media tagged the WTA and tennis greats Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova in one plea for help, saying they were "surprised" by the icons' "silence".
Peng is not gay! Why would you be surprised?
"Tournaments should be suspended in China and participation of China in any [competitions] ATP, ITF, WTA event until Peng Shuai appears with life," they added.
Another said: "This Peng Shuai thing is scary – very scary. Really hoping that she is OK and that she makes her presence known soon. WTA have said absolutely nothing about her disappearance, it seems?"
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