The Sacramento Bee’s fact-checking arm PoliGRAPH rated a TV ad targeting Scott Jones for accusations of sexual harassment as “True” today.
The ad is made up of independent news reporting on Jones’ alleged behavior. Despite the damning and disqualifying information, national Republicans continue to stand behind Jones’ candidacy. And, mind-blowingly, Jones has refused interviews to answer reporters’ questions about the allegations.
“This true ad lays out the allegations against Jones, shining a light on his pattern of disrespect for women, which disqualifies him from representing Sacramento families in Congress,” said Barb Solish of the DCCC.
PoliGRAPH TRUE: Ami Bera highlights alleged sexual advances by Scott Jones [excerpt]
The Sacramento Bee
September 19, 2016
Analysis:
Bera is using the cycle’s first deeply negative ad to highlight the deputy’s accusations of
unwanted sexual advances against Jones, which the subordinate says occurred between 2003 and 2005, but were first reported in the media in July.
It is true that allegations by Tosca Olives, at the time a 26-year-old sheriff’s deputy, were made in a July 2014 deposition as part of a retaliation lawsuit that is costing the county more than $10 million.
…Overall, she claimed about 30 inappropriate encounters over the two years, but said she and Jones also mutually kissed.
Jones, in his sworn statement with the court, responded to the accusations by saying that he never had romantic or sexual interest in Olives and, except one time, when he says she kissed him, “never had any physical contact with her of an intimate nature.”
…Olives made her statements under oath and said she considered taking her grievances up the chain of command before Jones advised her against it. Olives said she spoke with an attorney about Jones’ conduct, but decided against bringing a lawsuit because statute of limitations had expired.
No judge has passed judgment on Olives’ accusations. They remain allegations, as Bera has presented them.