Three strikes you’re out for America’s ex-husband
First, there was the ever-evolving Bernie Kerik fiasco. Then there was news that Giuliani’s South Carolina campaign manager got busted for slinging crack rock. Now, it looks like America’s ex-husband has knowingly employed a man implicated by grand jury in a sex abuse scandal (via TPM):
Giuliani employs his childhood friend Monsignor Alan Placa as a consultant at Giuliani Partners despite a 2003 Suffolk County, N.Y., grand jury report that accuses Placa of sexually abusing children, as well as helping cover up the sexual abuse of children by other priests. Placa, who was part of a three-person team that handled allegations of abuse by clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, is referred to as Priest F in the grand jury report. The report summarizes the testimony of multiple alleged victims of Priest F, and then notes, “Ironically, Priest F would later become instrumental in the development of Diocesan policy in response to allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests.” [...]
Placa has worked for Giuliani Partners since 2002. As of June 2007, he remains on the payroll. “He is currently employed here,” Giuliani spokeswoman Sunny Mindel confirmed to Salon, adding that Giuliani “believes Alan has been unjustly accused.” Mindel declined to discuss what role Placa plays with the consulting firm, or how much he is paid.
Time magazine’s David Von Drehle speculates that this wouldn’t hurt so much if Giuliani didn’t try to portray himself as such a law-and-order guy (no pun intended, Fred Thompson), but I disagree: a confidant he recommended for head of Homeland Security is up to his neck in mob business, a prominent campaign worker sells crack, he continues to employ someone implicated in a sex abuse scandal…these would be enough to sink any candidate, law-and-order or no.
[...] few days ago we told you that Rudy’s South Carolina campaign manager — Thomas Ravenel — was busted for [...]