Sheila Plotkin

Women assaulted by Donald Trump are finding their voices. Hearing him say that he did not do what he proudly said he did was the last straw for them. They knew he was lying. He did it to them. I understand the place these women have been and why they are speaking out now. 

In 1978, while having lunch with a colleague in a small restaurant in Milwaukee, a well-known circuit judge took a nearby table with a young woman. When she went to the restroom, he rose, strode to our table, and said "hello'. I thought he might be running for re-election. He asked my colleague her name, then kissed the hand she had expected he would shake.

He turned to me, asked my name, then suddenly grabbed the nape of my neck, pulled my head backwards, leaned into my face, and said, "If I had a woman like you at home, I'd never leave." He returned to his table, sitting down before the young woman rejoined him. 

My colleague and I were shaken. She asked me if I knew him. I said only by reputation. We talked about what to do, and tried to finish our meal, but we had lost our appetites. We told colleagues and family of our experience, but didn't know what else to do or who else to tell. We both felt angry, belittled, and frustrated by our inability to find a way to calm such strong emotions. 

I relived the assault every day. In my mind ran a constant tape of "I should have said...", why didn't I.....?  I aimed every accusation at me! I questioned my behavior! I faulted myself for my lack of action! Notice the pattern? Self-condemnation for an assault on my body. Self-disgust for my inability to respond. Self-disdain at my perceived weakness. I was angry at my attacker, but I was condemning me. 

Months later, I read that Judge Christ Seraphim was to be called before the Judicial Commission for assaulting women. At that moment, I knew what to do.  I called the DA, told him my story, and said I was willing to testify. My colleague followed suit. 

At trial in 1979, six women testified against Seraphim. During the trial, he was asked by the press to comment on that fact. He said, and I'm paraphrasing, "Only six? I could have given them the names of 500!" 

I learned at some point that his behavior was well-known within the mostly male confines of the Court House. No one had ever called him on it. The prevailing attitude, characterized for me by the DA during our phone conversation, was "Boys will be boys."

In 1980, the Judicial Commission found Seraphim guilty and removed him from his circuit court bench. Much later, his wife told reporters that he had abused her for years, and that on one occasion, he had pistol-whipped her. 

I understand why the women Donald Trump assaulted have been silent until now. I understand what kept them from exposing him. I understand how difficult their decision to speak out was for them. I know what it took to finally tell their individual stories. 

If you hear or read statements blaming them, please respond with, "They were assaulted. They were touched without consent. Donald Trump is to blame. He is a serial abuser. He bears full responsibility for those assaults."

There really is nothing more to say, is there?