
Leaders of yet another anti-domestic violence advocacy group come forward to say that they personally worked with Brent Furer on women's issues, the former aide for Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) who was known for two years to have attacked a girlfriend with a knife.
"We know first-hand that Brent Furer, a perpetrator of domestic violence, worked on women's issues in Senator Vitter's office," reads a statement from Sue Else, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. "Even if Furer didn't work on women's issues, he should have been fired for violently attacking an intimate partner. Senator Vitter should have fired Furer when he first learned about the case.
It is unacceptable that Senator Vitter continues to make excuses and minimize what occurred. This is his chance to speak out against domestic violence and make certain that his actions match his words. We call on Senator Vitter to acknowledge that he failed to act appropriately and show his strong support for life-saving legislation that serves survivors and holds perpetrators accountable.
Beth Meeks, executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, also confirmed to TPM that she worked directly with Furer on women's issues after the knife attack, but before he resigned two years later.
Nevertheless, Vitter has insisted multiple times that the first-hand testimonials and documentary evidence are wrong, and that Furer didn't work on "women's affairs" per se, but rather on abortion.
We'll try to get you further details from NNEDV.
Progressive Party
July 8, 2010 4:45 PM
I would love to see Vitter to take some real genuine heat over this shit! he is so disgusting
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gayinmt
July 8, 2010 5:09 PM in reply to Progressive Party
I've said it before and I'll say it again. He looks like the ultimate douchebag. And his actions seem to prove it.
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CarmanK
July 8, 2010 4:47 PM
Vitter will admit to nothing. He will not come out on violence against women because it would make him look weak. He will weather the storm and all will come to nil, at least that is what he is counting on, and when you cosider the state he represents, he's probably right.
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Sachchit
July 8, 2010 5:36 PM
The "Congressional Yellow Book" directory on my shelf (dated Spring 2009) lists:
Legislative Assistant Brent Furer
Legislative Responsibilities: Alcohol/Tobacco/Firearms, Campaign Finance, Children/Family Issues, Civil Rights, Elections, Federal Government/Government Reform, Government Affairs, Gun Control, Immigration, Judiciary, Legislative Affairs/Lobbying, Veterans' Affairs, Women's Affairs
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Walter Mitty
July 8, 2010 5:38 PM
Key is to ask other Republicans about this and whether they would keep a convicted domestic abuser on their staff, let alone with the "woman's issues" portfolio...
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theorajones
July 8, 2010 10:32 PM
I'd just like to point out that New York's Democratic Governor resigned over a prostitution scandal, and his replacement decided not to run for re-election because of a close aide involved in a domestic violence scandal.
Just saying that it's amazing what the self-described "values" voters and leaders in the Republican Party will tolerate that Democratic voters and leaders will not.
Tell me, who represents the mainstream? The party that demands politicians give up office when they are involved in prostitution or tolerate staff that commit domestic assault, or the party that supports the re-election of a guy who does BOTH?
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