Sutton Denies Page's Accusation (Sen. Sutton, Dem. SD)

Keloland Television ^ | 10/18/06 | Lou Raguse

[CometBaby]

He is on the ballot for re-election in three weeks, but a South Dakota state senator's career is in jeopardy because of an accusation that's been brewing for eight months.

The father of an 18-year-old male page says democrat Dan Sutton sexually groped the young man while the two roomed together during the legislative session.

Now state senate leaders are asking Sutton to resign or face legislative action.

We won't identify the page because he is a potential victim.

But his father is involved in politics and Sutton's lawyer Mike Butler says the father and Sutton were long-time friends. Butler says the page roomed with Sutton during the last legislative session and accuses Sutton of sexually groping him then.

Sutton was the youngest man in the legislature when we interviewed him in 2000. Now alleged sexual contact with a page could end his young political career.

"Dan Sutton now is all but destroyed," Butler says.

" And he denies that it happened?" asked KELOLAND News.

"Absolutely denies anything ever happened," Butler responded. "This is guilt by accusation."

The accusations are not new to Sutton's lawyer. He says the criminal investigation started in February and this matter should have been left to the DCI.

"It's been eight months," Butler says. "Presumably, they interviewed the man making the accusation and in my experience if a person makes an accusation, that's sufficient to bring a charge."

Because there were no charges, the father of the page contacted Republican senator Lee Schoenbeck. He wrote a letter to Sutton telling him to resign by today or face a public legislative hearing.

Butler says all of this is especially disappointing because Sutton and the alleged victim are family friends. That's why the two roomed together during the session.

"These parents approved of this young man staying there. This young man had been a guest in Mr. Suttons home many many times," Butler says.

And Butler worries because of the accusations, Sutton is already guilty in the public's eye.

Butler says after the alleged groping, the page's father still asked Sutton for an endorsement in his campaign and gave his own public endorsement to Sutton for his senate re-election bid.

Sut0ton did not resign today. Neither he nor the page's father returned our calls for comment.

[CometBaby]

Mainstream media doesn't seem to care about this story. Another glaring example of the double standard.

[Onelifetogive]

Butler says after the alleged groping, the page's father still asked Sutton for an endorsement in his campaign and gave his own public endorsement to Sutton for his senate re-election bid.

After the "alleged groping" is meaningless. After the Father knew about the "alleged groping" would indicate something.

[airborne]

Butler says after the alleged groping, the page's father still asked Sutton for an endorsement in his campaign and gave his own public endorsement to Sutton for his senate re-election bid.

That's just sick!

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[jwalburg]

"That's just sick."

Yes. Apparently Sutton's attorney has the voice message where Dennis Wiese asks Sutton for his endorsement. But there is a solid chance the entire thing is a slander made up by Wiese. Here is a very liberal blogger's summary of some of what's going on.

http://northernbeacon.blogspot.com/2006/10/gropegate-turns-into-fumble.html

Sutton is a pro-life Democrat, and he had a solid shot at eventually being the Dem candidat for governor. Wiese wants the spot himself. Also, Wiese and Sutton represnt opposite sides of a very controversial business deal.

[zendari]

He's not Foley and not a Republican, so nothing will happen.