Photographer Accuses Miguel Sano Of Assault

Apparently there were 2 "witnesses".  Should be easy to collaborate their stories with hers so the police could press charges, no?

Personally, I think the debate on is she telling the truth or is she lying is pointless.

Unfortunately, going pubic with the allegations makes everyone think they should make a decision, pick a side.
Yes, the allegations can be made public, but as an employer my thought be, please, give us a period to begin investigating and handle this, with the accuser, appropriately. To bring it to him in an appropriate way and ensure the truth comes out before it becomes a giant storm with the media and the public making wild assumptions and allegations and conclusions. It really comes from a position of wanting to aid the assaulted.
So what bothers me, isn't is this the truth or not, it's the way it was announced. Did no one in whom she confided advise her and offer to assist her in going through the appropriate channels, be it the Twins, MLB, or her employer?
I have had to deal with harassment in my work. It was not fun but it certainly was nothing like what happened here; I still think it about and have to deal with it and I can sympathize with her. Bringing it up to the attention of multiple senior managers was extremely worrisome, but it was necessary in my opinion to bring about a resolution and to bring peace of mind.

Unfortunately, I imagine that making a public announcement has likely brought a great deal of turmoil to her life. 

So, if you learn of information about a crime you believe to be true, you just ignore it?

This is asinine.  It isn't his story to tell.  You have no clue what she said to others nor what their response to her was.

I'm shocked TD is letting this crap fest go on right now

Odd debate here. I’m not mr. morality and won’t claim to have made all the best decisions in my life but I know one thing stays true 99.99% of the time, speculation on this stuff usually makes idiots out of everyone. I have found myself to never be wrong when I just let the facts come out before I say things that may look very bad and me way of another.

If Miguel did this, he’s gone in my eyes. If she is lying, that is too bad for all people this really happens too. But to debate this really puts a bad look for people on this board. You will never look good for debating this subject

So,  from what I gather, every one of the "staff" here at Twins Daily has known this for months, correct? A quote from an article: Nick Nelson "I speak for the entire Twins Daily ownership group in saying we believe her story".  How can he speak for everyone unless everyone knew it?

I'm sure not everyone knew about it, but the fact that someone here did but carried on as if everything were normal is unsettling to me. I really hope this was kept quiet at her request.

I don't know Betsy. I don't know Sano. No skin in the game, as they say.

I do have a wife and three daughters, all of which have been assaulted and/or raped. None reported the incidents, due to fear of repercussion. It takes guts for someone to stand up and say "this happened to me". The pain and anguish is quite real for the victims and those close to them.

It's not surprising these incidents are grossly underreported. The victims are vilified for something horrible that happened to them.

What exactly does Betsy gain from this, other than promoting awareness? She said she's not looking for money or anything else. She probably doesn't want to arbitrarily damage her favorite team by accusing a key player of a crime. So what does she gain? The people that immediately defend Sano have yet to answer that question.

It's sickening how sexual assaults and abuse are so willingly tolerated and defended.

I am saying this one thing and then shutting down for a while from this site to cool off. But if Nick knew about it and did nothing, that makes him an accompliss and a coward. Like I said earlier i dont know anyone involved but i dont come here to deal with this type of stuff. I come because its a simpler happier place to be....

I am saying this one thing and then shutting down for a while from this site to cool off. But if Nick knew about it and did nothing, that makes him an accompliss and a coward. Like I said earlier i dont know anyone involved but i dont come here to deal with this type of stuff. I come because its a simpler happier place to be....

If something is told to you, in confidence, you usually keep it to yourself while supporting them. Some circumstances may change that, but I don't think that applies here. It was her story to tell and if she didn't want anyone else to do or say anything about it then that is her right.

There will be a thorough investigation, there are witnesses, everyone will get a chance to tell their story.

But, for Sano, let's face it, not good.  Coming on the heels of his weight issues, this will not paint a pretty picture.  Does he have a role on defense with a rod in his leg?  Can he hit the low outside curve ball?  Can he keep his HUGE personality within a team framework?

I can't begin to answer those, other than to say, this is a career-altering type of incident, even if not nearly as severe as Aroldis Chapman's emptying a gun into his garage wall. 

If this was a one-time thing, maybe Sano works around it. But, it fits a pattern, not a flattering one, and that will be hard to erase from people's understanding about who he is as a person.

All that said, I hate that America has moved into a Scarlet Letter type posture with these accusations.  We need to be able to weigh evidence carefully, ask questions and get clarity before condemning either victims or perpetrators. 

I would tend to agree that there's very little productive to be said here. Normally, fans are inclined to want to believe the player in a situation like this. In this case, it may be the opposite. In any event, it's up to the Twins, MLB and the authorities to do, or not do what they see fit.

All I would say is that those ripping Nick or others here need to stop and take a breath. If he was told about this a year + after it happened and asked to keep it private, what good could possibly come from telling anyone?

The story broke today. The Twins FO knew nothing about this until today.

Sure. I highly doubt they had no knowledge before it went public.

10 PM EST, and still crickets on the Twins official homepage AND the MLB homepage. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Amazing.

These allegations need to be carefully examined.  And one thing that really needs to be examined overall in our current discourse is are these things "sexual assault"?  Clumsy approaches for dates or sex are not sexual assault. Nor is consensual sex given to receive something in return.

Not too many years ago Johann Santana was accused of raping a woman and it was a false charge.  Luckily for Johann that was kept pretty quiet and the fact is that the woman who did the accusing was a known nut who had consensual sex with him around the clubhouse (my parents live in that development).  

It is not rare for women to falsely accuse men of sexual assault or to accuse them of assault when it really isn't. Balancing this is a difficult issue so rushing to conclusions is something we should not do.

You realize that the police would do nothing about it, right? 

 

I understand that knowing the accuser must make this situation somewhat emotional for you, but this is irresponsible speculation.  What makes you so certain that you know how law enforcement would have reacted if she had gone to them immediately?

You realize that the police investigated the allegations against Kirby Puckett and it led to criminal charges filed by Hennepin County, right?  

An accomplice also helps the pertetrator get away with the crime. By sitting on the info you are an accomplice. You are helping the person get away with the crime. Its pretty straightforward. Now if Nucj found iut today...probably not much he could do...but 2 years ago ...really? Unless its not a big deal and the girl is embellishing alot....

Intriguing that the Twins site this morning before this broke had front and center an article about how pleased the Twins were with Sano's progress this winter so far. No such article anymore on the Twins front page....

I am truly torn as to whether or not to say anything at all, especially having read some of the posts here, but took a deep breath and decided to comment.

I choose my words very, very carefully.

I love and adore women. And to be very clear, I say that with the utmost warmth and respect, and not in a casual or sexual manner. I have loved and adored women in my life. I am the father of a 27yo daughter who I cherish deeply who, fortunately, has never faced any sort of situation like this reported one. I have known women, family, friends and relationship partners, who have been assaulted and abused in their life. I find it abhorrent!

I do not take these incidents, incidents to others, or reported incidents lightly! And I am speaking ONLY in the abstract on this incident as I have no first hand knowledge of the incident or the people involved.

Many of the women I have known have also refused to come forward due to shame or fear. Some that have "confessed" the incident did so later or much later. To vilify someone who has encountered this, or has learned about it in confidence and not "come forward" to do or say something about it is misguided. Many times the person involved is not ready, frightened, suffering from a sense of "shame" they should not be forced to feel, or simply wants to heal and move on. Sometimes they feel there is no legal recourse available, so their "confession" is made in confidence they hope is respected.

This is in general, through my own knowledge, and not a comment on this specific incident or the people involved. I want to make that clear!

But as a man, a person, a father, friend and partner and as an intelligent human being who is also a sports fan and has seen these incidents present themselves in various forms, I have two comments to make. And I don't make them lightly.

1] Due process should take it's course here first and foremost. This is NOT a cop-out statement. Both in the private sector and public sector we have heard of "mild" and egregious incidents/actions that have taken place. Some were proven true. Some were proven false. Some disappeared in to the gray. We are not judge and jury, nor directly involved. We are only outsiders looking in wondering as to what happened, and what will become of it all.

2] Again, I measure my words carefully here and am NOT speaking directly to this incident or the people involved. In life, and the legal system, there are degrees of mistakes/crimes committed by people. I dare all of us at least know people, whether they be friends, family or acquaintances who have done something wrong, bad or illegal at some point in their life. The moral high ground is sometimes easy to take. But if you personally knew Mr/Ms Smith, and they shoplifted once vs robbing a home or business, how would you weigh the scales? It's a moral dilema and a slippery slope to be sure. Do we vilify the transgressed to the same degree? Probably not, but that is a personal decision to be made. Likewise, in an incident that may be proven true, or false, or one that falls in to the gray, who then do we call villain?

The whole point here is that there is a lot more to contemplate, this situation or any other. I don't have the answer to this particular situation, and none of us do. I believe it will end up in the gray sector of reality, right or wrong. Lives are affected. And that's a shame. It feels as though both parties will be damaged in some way. And that may ultimately be the tragic part of this.

If I had a wish, it would be everyone would "like" my post and this topic would simply end here. It's news, and Twins news, but it's really beyond this forum to debate and decide anything here, IMHO.

Are her family and other friends an accomplice too? She told them right away.

If something is told to you, in confidence, you usually keep it to yourself while supporting them. Some circumstances may change that, but I don't think that applies here. It was her story to tell and if she didn't want anyone else to do or say anything about it then that is her right.

Spot on. I'm not sure how or why those she told in confidence have come under fire but the timing of the decision to write  and share the post was 100% hers. 

It is not rare for women to falsely accuse men of sexual assault or to accuse them of assault when it really isn't. Balancing this is a difficult issue so rushing to conclusions is something we should not do.

Seems easier to me to not jump to the "she's lying" accusations (not saying you are, but a whole ton of people are). I've seen people bring up the names of five guys who were falsely accused and because of those five guys it means every woman is lying. There are people saying that. That's wrong.