Two points of clarification:
1) Some comments use the caveat “if this is real” to then discuss the matter. I know teenagers in general are not reliable reporters. But when a teenage girl makes a claim like this, the question is not “if this is real then….” The question is how soon will it be investigated?
In the current case there is already well-documented public evidence of abuse in prior incidents. This is not the first, second, or third time. Police have been forced to investigate allegations of abuse on at least two prior occasions.
In the past, one might have listened to the shrieking Harpy that is Kellyanne and thought they were listening to the ravings of a parent on the edge who has lost her mind arguing with a teenager. But there is no goddamn way this can be chalked up to “being at your wit’s end.” None. Zero. If you are in possession of a digital device with images of a nude teenager on it, you are holding a hand grenade. If you do anything with that device, you are pulling the pin on that hand grenade.
There is no question this child requires protection and that requires a thorough investigation. Immediately.
The FACT is Claudia found out about this because OTHER people saw it and commented on it in her TikTok feed. The FACT is that picture was posted on Kellyanne’s Fleet. The FACT is that picture was on Claudia’s phone and that phone was in Kellyanne’s possession. Those facts are damning. This Harpy needs to be cast out to a circle of Hell where she belongs.
2) a) Some people have focused on the point raised by the child this may have been an accident. That only makes the testimony of the child more convincing. Anyone who has taken testimony from a survivor knows this testimony has none of the telltale signs commonly associated with lying. You can find some of the TikTok testimony in a link in the article I cited. I’m not including it here because someday — years from now — that link will be broken. I want that to be the legacy of this sordid saga. Twenty years from now if someone happens upon this story, the child’s words quoted above are sufficient.
b) Intentionality is not needed for this to be “endangering the welfare of a child.” <s>I have not found the DC statute for this, but include an example from Delaware (Title 11, Chap. 5, § 1102 (a)(1) ) that is basically the same as in many other jurisdictions
Title 11, Chap. 5, § 1102 Endangering the welfare of a child; class A misdemeanor; class E or G felony.
a) A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child when:
(1) Being a parent, guardian or any other person who has assumed responsibility for the care or supervision of a child the person:
a. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly acts in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of the child;</s>
Erratum: Since the original publication, I have learned the Conways do not reside in DC (as I thought) but now live in New Jersey. I have struck out the preceding citation to account for the fact that the law as applied in New Jersey is what matters here.
That doesn’t change anything I wrote, but precision matters. At this point it is not necessary, or appropriate, to argue which law(s) was(were) broken. There are mechanisms in place to address that according to New Jersey statute (NJ Rev Stat § 9:3A-8 (2013)) Child and Domestic Courts have the following power:
The commissioner may make, or cause to be made, such investigations as he deems necessary in the administration of the Department of Children and Families. For the purpose of any such investigation he may cause to be examined under oath any and all persons whatsoever and compel by subpoena the attendance of witnesses and the production of such books, records, accounts, papers and other documents as are appropriate. If a witness fails without good cause to attend, testify or produce such records or documents as directed in the subpoena, he shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of any witness who disobeys a summons or subpoena issued from a court of record in this State.
The fact this happened AT ALL is the legal cause for action, anything else is Mything The Point. The fact that local authorities confirmed an investigation has been opened into this incident is completely appropriate.