In order for this post to be as politically neutral as possible, I won’t reveal former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s political affiliations or his views in regard to other politicians. All of that information is easily available online. My focus is to try to understand how men such as Eric Schneiderman are appointed to posts and why they are chosen to represent our interests. How do we choose men like Eric Schneiderman?
Eric Schneiderman
The former New York Attorney General was forced to resign in May 2018, after reports surfaced of his incredibly unethical, abusive and violent behavior. It was ironic as he was a poster child for advocacy of the #MeToo movement. In his private life, he was a monster.
Four women came forward detailing how he would slap and choke them, mock them, verbally abuse them and even refer to them as his slaves. His specialty, it seems was to date successful, strong-willed women and then to tear them down and humiliate them. The women also reported that Schneiderman drank heavily (allegedly two bottles of wine over several nights and weeks, plus hard liquor) and abused antidepressant pills.
He also mocked his constituents and those who protested against positions he supported.
Though he denied the allegations, he resigned from office and issued the following statement:
“It’s been my great honor and privilege to serve as Attorney General for the people of the State of New York. In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me. While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office’s work at this critical time. I, therefore, resign my office…”
As the article (Ronan Farrow, New York Magazine) came to light, detailing his abusive behavior Schneiderman had no choice but to resign in shame. It was ironic in that he was a vocal critic of men such as Harvey Weinstein.
When research into Eric Schneiderman was conducted, one accuser led to another, with two of the accusers frightened to reveal themselves for fear of reprisals. The New York Attorney General is a powerful office in a powerful State. Even though Schneiderman was accused of making a death threat to one of the women as well as shaking and slapping others.
Eight years of abuse?
Eric Schneiderman had once been a New York state senator. He ran for attorney general in 2010 and did not resign until 2018. Over those years, it seems as though his public and private personas were quite different. As the charges against him mounted, he stated that he engaged in “role-playing and other consensual sexual activity.” However, the women he abused painted a very different picture.
Strangely, his ex-wife came to his defense with a statement of her own:
“I’ve known Eric for nearly 35 years as a husband, father, and friend. These allegations are completely inconsistent with the man I know, who has always been someone of the highest character, outstanding values, and a loving father. I find it impossible to believe these allegations are true.”
While the statement was certainly supportive, it is interesting to read the crafted statement in terms of what was not stated. She is an ex-wife who is basing her statement on belief rather than truth and that is at the ethical crux of the matter.
Those who supported his stances against sexual abuse and his politics, and even those who may have urged his ex-wife to make a statement in support of him, were more than willing to ignore the four courageous women who came forward.
How do lawmakers and indeed enforcers of the law like a state attorney general get elected and stay in office? To my mind, the ethical requirements are far too lax, and politics seem more important than taking an ethical stance.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman had all the right in the world to state his political views whether acceptable or repugnant. He had every right, indeed an obligation, to take a stance against sexual abuse and harassment, but all of it is just words if he lacked the ethical behavior to make his words count.
In his mind, a mind that may have allegedly been clouded by alcohol and drug abuse, he was powerful and above reproach. He had the opportunity to be abusive and he seized it. He did not count on the consequences of his choices emerging under the light of truth. How do we choose men like Eric Schneiderman?
