NEW: Giarrusso Defends Himself Against “Misogynist” #PinkWave Attack in RI House Race
Tuesday, October 09, 2018
Republican State Representative Anthony Giarrusso is defending himself against an unsigned mailer attack accusing him of being a misogynist — and more — in the race against Democrat Justine Caldwell.
Giarrusso, who was first elected to District 30 (East Greenwich, West Greenwich) in 2012, said he was “taken aback” by receiving the #pinkwave mailer, which among other things, said that all men want is sex, and men should "kept out" of the State House. Giarrusso posted the contents of the letter, which included the following:
East Greenwich is ground zero for the war against women….we knew it was time to stand up to misogynists like Rep. Giarrusso.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMen only care about sex! They expect us to cook, clean, iron their shirts and sexually gratify them whenever they want! Disgusting!
“I feel worse for my wife,” said Giarrusso. “This is her husband, the father of her children. We got two copies at our house…I was completely shocked.”
Responding to Allegations
Giarrusso responds to portions of the letter that called out his missing a sexual harassment training at the State House, and his views on Roe v. Wade.
“Yes, I missed it, for a number of reasons,” said Giarrusso of the training. “I don't like how it was rolled out politically -- a rep says #metoo and someone in leadership harassed her. She never said the name -- which I took offense to. There are young women [at the State House]. If there's someone doing that in there, I want to know.”
“So beside the knee jerk optics of it — I’m certainly not a member of the Democratic leadership -- I employ over a hundred people. We have trainings, we have zero tolerance, and we've had not one complaint in thirty years -- that's a long time,” said Giarrusso. ‘
“I value women. I went home and had dinner with my wife that night. We spend a lot of time up there. There were 18 other members that didn't do it -- but 18 didn't attend for probably same reasons,” said Giarrusso.
As for Roe v. Wade, Giarrusso acknowledged he is pro-life.
“Yes, it’s a contentious issue,” said Giarrusso. “But in the end, I am pro-life.”
The letter also tried to tie him to the scandal were Representative Ramon Perez, who passed out materials that Perez said mistakenly had pornography links.
“This is what happens when you elect men to office! Disgusting behavior. Men use us like cattle for their sexual desires!,” said the letter, calling Perez a “Senator” — and close friend of Giarrusso’s.
“We’re colleagues. I don’t have his cell, nor does he have mine. I couldn’t tell you his wife and children’s names, and I’m sure he couldn’t tell you mine,” said Giarrusso.
The letter ends, “Let’s end this struggle together. No more men.”
Caldwell did not respond to request for comment on the letter by phone or by email on Monday; she did, however, take to social media to make statements (see below).
Editor's Note: A previous version identified House District 20; it is House District 30.
This article was first published 10/8/18 12:35 PM. Updated Monday 9:34 pm
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