Time’s David Von Drehle asked a highly relevant question in his latest piece: “How many alleged criminals can a law-and-order candidate be associated with before it starts to hurt?” Von Drehle posed the question after Thomas Ravenel, the chairman of Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign in South Carolina, was indicted on cocaine distribution charges, which, of course, comes on the heels of revelations about Giuliani’s connections with Bernard Kerik.
But if Von Drehle’s deadline was just one day later, he would have been able to include an even more damaging example of Giuliani’s questionable associations.
Giuliani employs his childhood friend Monsignor Alan Placa as a consultant at Giuliani Partners despite a 2003 Suffolk County, N.Y., grand jury report that accuses Placa of sexually abusing children, as well as helping cover up the sexual abuse of children by other priests. Placa, who was part of a three-person team that handled allegations of abuse by clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, is referred to as Priest F in the grand jury report. The report summarizes the testimony of multiple alleged victims of Priest F, and then notes, “Ironically, Priest F would later become instrumental in the development of Diocesan policy in response to allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests.” […]
Placa has worked for Giuliani Partners since 2002. As of June 2007, he remains on the payroll. “He is currently employed here,” Giuliani spokeswoman Sunny Mindel confirmed to Salon, adding that Giuliani “believes Alan has been unjustly accused.” Mindel declined to discuss what role Placa plays with the consulting firm, or how much he is paid. Says Richard Tollner, who testified before the grand jury that Placa had molested him, “[Giuliani] has to speak up for himself and explain himself. If he doesn’t, people shouldn’t vote for him.” Adds Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, which tracks suspected priest abuse, “I think Rudy Giuliani has to account for his friendship with a credibly accused child molester.”
The Salon piece, by Alex Koppelman and Joe Strupp, touches on some very serious allegations. This is more than just Giuliani sticking up for a long-time friend after he came under fire.
As Marc Ambinder explained, in 2003, “a grand jury concluded that Placa was at the center of a diocese-wide effort to cover up nearly 60 allegations of sexual abuse by its priests.”
Additionally, the grand jury found two other boys who alleged that “Priest F” — Placa, although he was not named — had molested them. The grand jury found that Placa was “cautious but relentless” in “pursuing his victims.”
Giuliani stood by Placa after the grand jury issued its report, and he stands by him now.
Placa was never charged; the statute of limitations had run out.
Von Drehle’s Time article noted, “[A]ll candidates live in fear that a prominent supporter will become an embarrassment in the middle of a campaign.”
In Giuliani’s case, there are three (Kerik, Ravenel, and Placa). And counting.