That's the message coming from the Massachusetts GOP, which just put out a press release accusing Tom Reilly of flip-flopping on eliminating the statue of limitations for child sex-abuse cases--and on a few other subjects, too. A hearing on the issue--bagging the S.O.L. for molestation cases, that is, not Reilly's alleged flip-flopping--took place at the State House earlier today.
Here's the full text of A) today's Reilly statement saying the statute of limitations shouldn't apply in these cases and B) the Mass. GOP's rapid response.
Expect a lot more of this if Reilly's the Democratic nominee.
Reilly's Other Flip Flops: Gay Weddings, Tax Cut, Death Penalty
Tom Reilly opposed legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations on child sex crimes before he supported it. The sudden support for the sexual abuse legislation is the fourth major flip-flop by Reilly, including changes to his positions on gay marriage, reducing the income tax and the death penalty.
You cannot trust Tom Reilly’s position on any issue because he changes his mind so frequently. Reilly is not telling voters what he thinks, he’s telling voters what he thinks they want to hear. He’ll say anything to get elected,” said Matt Wylie, Executive Director of the MassGOP.
Reilly is listed in the Boston Herald as a supporter of legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations on sexual abuse crimes against children, which is the subject of a Judiciary Committee hearing today. But in 2003, after investigating the clergy abuse scandal, Reilly clearly opposed the legislation.
"[Reilly] disagreed on the efficacy of extending the statute of limitations on abuse as a means of accomodating victims who take years to report child molestation. "We'll continue to review that," he said. --The Boston Herald, July 24, 2003
"Reilly said this week that he did not support legislation that would eliminate the statute of limitations in cases of rape and sexual abuse, despite evidence that some victims do not report such abuse for years." --The Boston Globe, July 25, 2003
"It's a tough question that we get a lot from victims," said Stephen Bilafer, chief of staff for Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, who opposes the elimination of the statute of limitations in sexual assault cases... "These are very difficult cases to make under any circumstances, but especially after an extended passage of time," Bilafer said. "A case like this one cries out for the ability to prosecute, but the fact is that the ability to do justice does diminish over time." --The Boston Globe, September 29, 2004
Reilly flipped his position on this issue in March 2005 as he began his campaign for governor.
"When someone is brave enough to come forward and report sexual abuse, the law must support them in every way possible. Massachusetts needs to take the step to eliminate the statute of limitations altogether – on the criminal and civil levels. The passage of time should not be an obstacle to law enforcement when it comes to punishing those who hurt children. These important bills will ensure that those who hurt our children by perpetrating these crimes will always be held accountable." --Reilly statement, March 14, 2006
Reilly’s flip-flop coincided with switches on other key issues last year:
--Reilly now supports gay marriage after fighting it in court.
"In a television interview and comments repeated to the Herald yesterday, Reilly said he opposes a constitutional amendment to outlaw same-sex marriage. "Everything changes on May 17 when gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts," Reilly said. "Once rights are given, they should never be taken away." --The Boston Herald, February 12, 2005 (by then-reporter David R. Guarino, now director of communications in the attorney general's office)
--Reilly now supports an income tax cut to 5 percent.
"If these numbers hold up, then we should do it," Reilly said. In March, Reilly said the income tax rollback championed by Governor Mitt Romney was tantamount to "short-changing the future," and added, "we have difficult financial challenges ahead of us over the foreseeable future, over the next few years, and right now we cannot afford to be rolling back taxes." --The Boston Globe, December 9, 2005
--Reilly opposes the death penalty, after supporting it, after opposing it.
"I, too, have never supported a death penalty in this particular state." --Then-district attorney Reilly in the Boston Globe, March 15, 1990
"To me, the death penalty is punishment, just punishment of people for what they have done." Then-district attorney Reilly in the Boston Globe, May 13, 1995
Reilly said he does not support bringing back the death penalty, though, because, "Across the board, I just don't see that as a solution." --Attorney General Reilly, Telegram & Gazette, September 29, 1999
"At this point, without the infrastructure in place, I think we have greater priorities in public safety and housing and jobs." --Attorney General Reilly, The Boston Globe, April 29, 2005
"When asked if he would sign into law this particular bill if he were governor, Reilly responded: 'Yeah, probably.' He added: 'I believe the death penalty can be fairly and equally applied.' But, he said, reinstating capital punishment is 'not on the list of my priorities.'" --The State House News Service, April 29, 2005
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