Sarah Palin Rape Exams
During Sarah Palin's time as mayor of the city of Wasilla, Alaska, the city might have charged rape victims for rape kits, which are provided when victims of sexual assault or rape seek help. Rape kits include evidence-gathering tools and sometimes emergency contraception. The charge would have been the result of new policies. It is not clear if the city ever charged victims, since Wasilla city records are destroyed after six years.1 Palin denies knowledge of the charges.2
In new evidence reported on October 10, 2008, Dr. Colleen Murphy, formerly of the Alaska Violent Crimes Compensation Board, reported that she was approached by rape victims to cover the cost of their exams.3
Fast Facts
- Former state representative Eric Croft sponsored the law which required Alaska to provide free rape examination kits to victims2
- Wasilla police chief Charlie Fennon led a six-month fight against a state bill that secured free rape examinations for women subjected to sexual attacks2
- Palin signed budget documents that required hospitals to charge victims or their insurance companies for the rape kits4
- It is not clear if any victims were charged, since city records are destroyed after six years1
- Palin claims no knowledge of the victims' fees2
- Former state representative Eric Croft claims Palin must have known2
- Some blogs hint pro-life Palin might have been against rape kits because they sometimes contain emergency contraception, considered by some as an abortion method5
- Palin was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, from 1996 to 20022
Budget Cuts
The Huffington Post cited the Wasilla budget documents as evidence that Palin had a "direct hand" in the rape exam charges. As mayor, Palin made Charlie Fannon police chief. According to the Huffington Post, Fannon cut the budget for the exams and began charging the city's victims. The budget changes were signed by Palin. Alaska lawmakers outlawed the charging of victims a year later.46
Palin's Response
Palin claims no knowledge of the victims' fees.2 In an email interview with Wasilla newspaper The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Palin wrote it is "absurd" that victims should pay for rape kits, but did not answer the question if any victims were charged for these kits in Wasilla when she was mayor.1
Eric Croft on Palin's Response
Croft claims that he finds "it hard to believe that for six months a small town, a police chief, would lead the fight against a statewide piece of legislation receiving unanimous support and the mayor not know about it."2
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