NEW: Doherty Accuses Cicilline of Accepting Campaign Cash from Sex Industry
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Republican Congressional candidate Brendan Doherty is accusing incumbent Congressman David Cicilline of accepting campaign contributions from individuals engaged in Rhode Island’s sex industry in recent years over the last decade.
“Congressman Cicilline’s attempt to gain politically from the proceeds of these operations demonstrates not only tremendously poor judgment but also his blatant hypocrisy each time he claims to ‘fight for women,’ ” said Ian Prior, Doherty Campaign Manager. “These contributions again underscore the difference in character between Brendan Doherty and David Cicilline. While Doherty fought to outlaw underage girls from being hired as strippers, to enact a tough anti-human trafficking law and to close the loophole in Rhode Island law that prevented law enforcement from prosecuting indoor prostitution, Cicilline was fueling his political campaigns with the profits of the sex industry for his own political benefit.”
Doherty’s criticism is the latest attack on Cicilline’s record with women’s issues. Doherty has also released a commercial criticizing the Congressman for representing rapists and murderers when he was a defense lawyer.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPrior listed several examples of Cicilline accepting contributions from those who own spas or strip clubs:
• Frank and David DeLuca owners of the now-closed Sportsman Inn, also a reputed den of prostitution over the years, contributed $7,400 to Cicilline, as recently as 2010.
• Richard Shappy, owner of the Cadillac Lounge and Satin Doll strip clubs has contributed $1,650 to Cicilline;
• Chalres Tapalian, who owns Cheaters, a Providence topless bar, donated $500 to Cicilline;
• Thomas Tsoumas, managing partner of the Foxy Lady, a Providence strip club, donated $1,000 to Cicilline.
“Accepting campaign contributions from strip clubs, topless bars and houses of prostitution that exploit women for profit clashes with Cicilline’s claims of advocating for women,” Prior said. “Once again, Brendan Doherty proves to be a man of action while David Cicilline is nothing more than a man of empty words.”
