Summary
Crystal Mangum, who accused three Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006, admitted for the first time on a podcast that her claims were fabricated.
She said she lied for validation and apologized to Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty, and David Evans, acknowledging they “didn’t deserve” the accusations.
The case, which drew national attention, collapsed after evidence disproved her story, leading to the disbarment of Durham DA Mike Nifong for misconduct.
Mangum is currently in prison for a 2011 murder conviction.
Yeah, it’s a great idea. Because innocent people are never convicted in our justice system.
Because people never abuse the legal system with bogus lawsuits.
Because police aren’t more likely to be abusers themselves and therefore more likely to take the side of another abuser against a victim.
Because someone who is willing to rape someone isn’t ever likely to try to exert more power over them.
Because laws are always applied evenly and justly across all races, sexes, social classes, identities.
Because sexual assault victims feel totally empowered by our legal system and society as long as they’re telling the truth.
Oh wait, none of those things are true.
So no, it’s not a great idea. Not until we fix a fuck ton of other problems in our society and justice system.
Libel, slander, and perjury are already illegal. Let’s use existing laws rather than introducing something new that can make it even harder for real victims.
It’s amazing how some people hate men so much that they’ll go to bat harder for hypothetical women than actual men, who have been falsely accused.
Pitiful.