Abinanti and Shimsky Slug it Out

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti and County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky are in a heated democratic primary for NY-92 Assembly

By Dan Murphy

Below is a mailing from Assemblyman Tom Abinanti in his democratic primary battle against County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky.

Shimsky has also dropped a last minute bomb, which was picked up by the NY Post, claiming that Abinanti diminished the concept of date rape. The accusation comes from a meeting of westchester democrats in 2018, and a June 16 Medium post from Liv Bespolka who called Abinanti a rape apologist, writing “In 2017 while attending my freshman year of college I was a victim of date rape, stalking, and abuse….In the fall of 2018 you attended our meeting and spoke to the assembled group. You went on a long tangent denigrating date rape, saying it targeted men, that it was all college aged girls who just regretted their sexual activity and accused their partners of rape. I vividly remember those dismissive air quotes you used while describing “date rape.” I was shocked that you, my only Democratic representative outside of a statewide office, were effectively defending my rapist.”

Abinanti denies the allegation, telling the NY Post, “I did not make the comments alleged.”
No audio or video of the meeting of the Mt. Pleasant Democratic Committee exists.

“The false allegation is contrary to who I am as a person, a husband, a father and a public servant. My record of years of public service is clear: I have spent my career championing women’s rights and support for survivors,” said Abinanti.

Three Mt. Pleasant democrats at the meeting are split on whether the incident happened. Two members of the executive committee did not see or hear that happening, while Bespolka’s mother backs up her daughter’s account.

It is interesting to note that Bespolka’s Medium post was made on June 16, 2022, and not in the years between 2018 and today.

The bottom line is that this democratic primary has become the hottest and muddiest one in Westchester County. The primary is tomorrow, June 28.

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