It is speculation as far as I know. The only reason I think it is obliquely okay to mention JS in this context is because he is sanctioned with a criminal disposition, and because he was GM’s student and then his assistant. The conviction is for possession of child pornography, not for directly causing harm to a child himself. If there is more I don’t know either way.
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I can understand if anyone wants to tread carefully and not go out on the same limb I have with respect to speculation about the intent behind the initial statement from GM.
I am basing my statements on multiple pieces of information from prior COTH threads and others on other sites about Soresi and GM that have been out there publicly… for years. The timing of the incident supposedly at issue which is the basis of the lifetime ban handed down to GM (this is according to the PR release) corresponds with the timing of Soresi training/living with GM as a minor.
As for why GM and his PR team would want the general public to assume that Mr. Soresi is the complainant behind the Safe Spirt investigation that has resulted in a lifetime ban? Well… that’s easy. Because his name has already been out there for years, and he has a child pornography possession conviction, and the public is likely to consider him an unsympathetic person. That’s just my opinion.
I am am inclined to be sympathetic to any victim of child abuse with respect to their own experience of abuse. The fact that many victims go on to lead troubled lives in many respects is true. If they commit crimes as adults, they should suffer the ramifications like any other adult. But crimes they committed as an adult does not, to me, mean they deserve any less sympathy if they were in fact victims of child abuse.
I have seen other comments today on Facebook alluding to the potential complainant/complainants in GMs case being promiscuous (more vulgar terms were used). And comments and questions being raised essentially saying “Should Safe Sport really give the same weight to allegations of abuse coming from people who have a history of being promiscuous the same weight as allegations of abuse from other people?”
This sort of thing makes me ill and sad. There are no perfect victims. It doesn’t mean that we give predators a free pass.
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@Virginia Horse Mom I saw the change in status for Tom Novarro also. I assume he decided not to appeal. It would be pretty tough to win an appeal when you already have a conviction on your record. You’re right, it’s business as usual for him. He continues “trying to improve the local horse industry.” But I still wouldn’t recommend the place.
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Child pornography directly harms children.
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Vanessa Brown on her fb is encouraging people to read the SS information. The comments are all anti SS.
An interesting comment by Jim Giorgio- He feels” a class action suit is right around the corner “. He suggests the “ need to raise $500k to unleash the sharks.” He states that if 25,000 USEF members each donate $20, or 50,000 members each donate $10, that in a SS minute the funds will be raised .”
Really? No words.
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Jim Giorgio plead guilty to charges involving a teenaged girl.
And he’s ranted on Facebook following the RG case that his lawyers were launching a legal challenge.
So why the fundraising? Why raise $500k for lawyers by getting donations from general membership? Isn’t Giorgio’s own legal team well on their way to overturning Safe Sport so that guys like him can get back to coaching and horse showing?
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The only comment I have on this whole mess is this is exactly why I will never join an organization that adheres to the SS garbage. You have no true recourse and you can be tar and feathered on a whim and hearsay. No thanks not the kind of world I want to subject myself to. Carry on supporting a group that wants to do things in such a way even though there is no way there is any true evidence after 50 years. What a crock…
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^ a real loss to sport everywhere.
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Good news. No one will be trusting you with their children. If you can’t abide by the rules, then you have no business being involved in the sport.
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You should contact Jim Giorgio and consider contributing money to his legal team and the class action lawsuit that he is proposing.
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Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
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I have no issue with rules that make sense but some random organization being able to make a ruling in something that would never stand up in court is asinine. By making it a rule that I have to report anyone for doing any of the oh so terrible things on the SS naughty list is ridiculous. Reading the article written by the junior rider made me angry for all the lost opportunities and relationships the creation of SS is going to have.
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You have every right not to join an NGB if it makes you uncomfortable. But do you honestly believe that GM - who, to my knowledge, is one of the biggest names in equestrian sports - would be given a lifetime ban due to accusation from one person over 50 years ago? Do you honestly believe that there were no other claimants, witnesses or pieces of evidence?
Feel free to refrain from joining an NGB. Feel free to believe whatever you want. But please don’t spread your opinions as fact unless (or in this case, until) you hear what actually led to his ban.
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Let me guess you are upset you didn’t report something and now just take such pride in these “victims” coming forward. Bless your heart I hope it all works out for you someday. Just think of all the people you could have helped if you if you would have come forward in a timely manner. Victims that keep their mouth shut have helped create more victims and are just as guilty for not putting a stop to it as soon as they had an opportunity to.
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By all means do not participate in any sport if you can’t use common sense, which is all that safe sport asks. You do not present yourself as a person that should be around other people’s children.
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they all say they’re leaving, but they never do.
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What the actual heck? :lol:
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Yep, it’s all the fault of the children that didn’t confront the adults that molested them. 
How you sleep at night is beyond me.:no:
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You are really putting forth some persuasive and thought provoking arguments.
There was an Op Ed written by a 17 year old concerning the subject of MAAP guidelines (and by extension SS), and how this will lead to “lost opportunities” for “relationships.” It’s interesting this has you angry. And that you characterize Safe Sport violations the way you do.
Feel free to head on back to Facebook and comment privately in one of many closed groups devoted to supporting and standing with accused child molesters. You might find that audience more receptive to your commentary, and more aligned with your perspective
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I grew up spending lots of what would now be forbidden time with USEF members. As my working parents would not of been able to provide signed approval for some impromptu outings. The idea that I would have missed out on that part of my early teenage life would have been quite the life changer. I just laugh and laugh how anyone would willingly submit themselves to being able to be black balled because someone said bad things. Because yes I do think that in this victim/accuser is always truthful time we live in that it is entirely possible one person saying one thing without proof could cause getting on the list. We have to shake in our boots that someone might try to stir things up if they aren’t unquestioningly believed. Ah that word accused you mean they haven’t been proven to be? In that case they shouldn’t be treated any different until found otherwise. Funny how that works.
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