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Sen. Scott Brown Says He Was Sexually and Physically Abused as a Child
In a stunning revelation, Sen. Scott Brown tells 60 Minutes he was sexually abused by a camp counselor as a child but never told anyone about the "traumatic" experience, not even his mother, because he didn't think anyone would believe him.
"That's what happens when you're a victim. You're embarrassed, you're hurt," he said in an interview airing Sunday with CBS News' Leslie Stahl. "Fortunately, nothing was ever fully consummated, so to speak, but it was certainly back then, very traumatic."
Brown, a Republican, gained the national spotlight when he won a special election in 2010 for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat in heavily Democratic Massachusetts.
The Boston Globe obtained a copy of Brown's upcoming memoir, "Against All Odds," in which he writes about being fondled at age 10 by a male counselor at a religious camp he attended. The counselor threatened to kill him if he told anyone what had happened, he told Stahl.
Brown, 51, also said he had been beaten by a stepfather, according to a statement released by the CBS program on Wednesday.
The Globe reported that publicity releases for the book quoted Brown as saying he was the victim of "a savage beating at the drunken, dirty-fingernail hands of a stepfather" when he was 6 years old. The boy had been trying to defend his mother from his stepfather.
Click on the frame embedded below to watch video from 60 Minutes:
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Is he looking for sympathy votes?
February 23 2011 at 5:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAs a fellow survivor of sexual abuse, I applaud Senator Brown for openingly discussing his ordeal. I know from experience the depression, fear, guilt and shame that such an event as such can cause. I may not completely agree with his political views but he is a brave man.
February 23 2011 at 1:34 PM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyOh please! This man is not making up the abuse he suffered. This is why so much sexual and physical abuse go unreported! No one believes them! What could he gain from this? A few book sales? Hurray to the senator for rising above the predators that attempted to steal his soul!
February 21 2011 at 10:25 PM Report abuse Permalink +5 rate up rate down ReplyIt surely looks like a quest for attention. It seems being US Senator is not good enough for him.
February 21 2011 at 9:42 PM Report abuse Permalink -4 rate up rate down ReplyHard to believe a 6 yr old 10 year old or whenever this took place, couldnt trust his mother to protect him at least from the councillor, sounds a little like hey I need some attention now my book is coming out.
February 17 2011 at 6:38 PM Report abuse Permalink -13 rate up rate down ReplyI have family member who was sexually abused as a child and hid it from all of us. He was threatened too. You can't possibly understand the terror these kids are subject to. They think they are protecting their parents. it has nothing to do with not 'trusting' their mother. If Scott Brown claims he was abused, then he should be sympathized with, plain and simple.
February 17 2011 at 7:19 PM Report abuse Permalink +5 rate up rate down ReplyI disagree. For a 10 yr old young boy,it is truly embarrassing to be caught in that situation. He was right when he said that you can doubt if your parents will believe you. The uncertain consequences can be very traumatic,therefore, vulnerable,helpless kids decide to keep it to themselves. It was brave of him to admit that.
February 17 2011 at 11:15 PM Report abuse Permalink +8 rate up rate down ReplyI am sorry about child abuse, but the story is getting trite with so many publicity seekers claiming it now just to get ehri names in the media.
February 17 2011 at 5:01 PM Report abuse Permalink -5 rate up rate down ReplyUnndunn: ------ But Scott Brown IS running for reelection in 2012. He was sworn in last year after the special election following Ted Kennedy's death.
February 17 2011 at 4:01 PM Report abuse Permalink -6 rate up rate down ReplySenator Brown is to be commended for his courage in reporting these embarrasing experiences. It will serve to alert parents about checking-out camp counselors.
February 17 2011 at 3:59 PM Report abuse Permalink +14 rate up rate down ReplyWhere are all Republicans that put Cheryl Burke down last week when she also said she had been sexually abused as a child? I guess only Republicans are allowed to come out with this information. What a sick world we live in. In this man's case he wants to run for President and this is all political for him plain and simple.
February 17 2011 at 3:09 PM Report abuse Permalink -12 rate up rate down ReplyI disagree that his revelations are based on politics or emotional need. I just think it's easier to talk about these trumatic events in today's world than it was 20 ,30, or more years ago. It's good for victims to hear about others who have experienced these horrors, so they too can open up if they feel the need, and celebrities are in a good positon to let people know that they are not alone, they can open up, and there is no need to feel shame or embarrasment about it-it was not the victims' fault.
February 17 2011 at 12:47 PM Report abuse Permalink +20 rate up rate down ReplyI suffered similar abuse (nothing was consumated) at the age of 6, from a male babysitter. I spent 3 decades without thinking of it, until it hit me BAM, when my daughter was about 4. The feeling of embarrassement never leaves you. The damage is tremendous. I completely understand how he felt and why he did not "report" it. Molested children fear a backlash. They are usually threatened. I am very glad he came forward with this. This is not a political tactic (and this is a Democrat talking). I admire him for warning parents of children out there so they can talk and warn them. Beware.
February 17 2011 at 4:25 PM Report abuse Permalink +12 rate up rate down Reply
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