I am not taking the principle of legal processes lightly. I have said that he should not face jail based on this. I do think that we are allowed to form our own opinions, despite it not going to court. This was why I mentioned Saville and co. Not to say Brand is guilty because they were, but that the idea that we should only form an opinion based on court results to be flawed.
It’s all a matter of belief, and it’s perfectly fine to form an opinion based on that belief. The accusations are believable and detailed, with corroborative evidence. Of course I am open to the possibility of an explanation from Brand which signals innocence. However, it doesn’t look good to me, including stuff which came from the horse’s mouth. I found your statement about considering the possibility that the victims may have political motivation to be leading. If they did, why are they putting themselves through public judgement, which often weighs heavily against victims from many? It’s actually why rape is under-reported. It’s more common for victims to not accuse to avoid such stress.
Others may say I am motivated by my dislike of Brand’s politics, which actually goes back years to when he was playing the left wing kook. However, my favourite journalist was found to be a sexual harasser not so long ago, and I accepted that and lost faith in that man. I conversed with one of those he bothered too, and she was believable and convinced me. He has never been found guilty, but it stretched credulity for him not to be a wrong ‘un. It would have been unfair on those he harassed and groped to have been able to keep his job (he lost it), even if it hasn’t gone to court.
