Accused in Florida's Latest Scandal Deserve Benefit of the Doubt

  One of the most significant problems in our society today, right next to Cancel Culture, is not providing fair treatment to accused individuals (unless they're Democrats). Whatever happened to the benefit of the doubt?

  In America we pride ourselves on the idea of treating the accused as innocent until proven guilty. Of course, that applies only to the courtroom in actuality but the spirit should extend to the rest of the media and society as well. When the facts are not completely obvious, the media still commits a rush-to-judgment style verdict.

  This rush to judgment occurs on both sides of the political spectrum, albeit more heavily on the left, and on any range of crimes, from simple white collar scandals to mass murders. Whether a person is of Arab background and carries out a mass shooting, or an attacker is committing a white on black crime, both left and right wing media often seem to know the answers before the details come out as to why the person committed the crime.

  During now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing, the media relentlessly attacked the judge for his alleged sexual assaults, piling on the train of shame. Only later did the facts come out that at least one of the accusers admitted she “fabricated” the story as a “ploy” and “tactic” to fight his Supreme Court nomination.

  Unless these highly sanctimonious members of our local media live in Cassadaga, they probably don’t know the intentions of any of these individuals, or the veracity of their guilt.

  Case in point: Florida’s most recent political scandal. It all began when federal agents stormed Joel Greenberg‘s offices and arrested him last year. The saga has continued to a fever pitch, and now Greenberg remains in a federal jail cell as he awaits court. After 33 counts, a preponderance of the evidence points to his guilt. But what of everyone else involved?

  Should Congressman Matt Gaetz, or Chris Dorworth, or anyone else be found guilty simply because of their association with Greenberg in the past? Should Bill Clinton's friendship with certain nefarious individuals effectively convict him of their crimes in the public arena? Of course not.

  Let’s do the right thing, the American thing, and let the facts come out before condemning anyone.

  Sadly, but not surprisingly, the media's treatment of Gaetz differs starkly from former Congresswoman Corrine Brown, who received far less negative coverage than the embattled Congressman.

  As of this writing, Republican leadership in the House remains steadfast in their support of Gaetz.

  If any of the accused were to be found guilty based on solid evidence, they deserve justice. Right now, we simply don't know. However, whatever the outcome, these individuals do not deserve the treatment spewed by the left-wing media circus currently dominating Central Florida’s press.