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Posted on 10/27/2007 9:08:25 AM PDT by SC Swamp Fox
An adult stepdaughter of a former Republican congressional candidate said his failure to acknowledge her on a Web site contributed to her decision to contact authorities with allegations he sexually assaulted her throughout her childhood.
Tanya Jenerette-Begg told The Sun News on Friday that she "couldn't sit back and let his wife and him sit in a political arena."
The Sun News does not normally publish names of possible sexual assault victims. Jenerette-Begg agreed to be interviewed.
Her stepfather, Van Jenerette, who lost a bid for a 1st Congressional District seat to Henry Brown in 2000, was charged Thursday with two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
The charges stem from Jenerette-Begg's allegations that he sexually assaulted her in 1972. She is now 41 years old.
Jenerette was being held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center late Friday, after his bail was set earlier that day at $15,000 for each count.
Conditions of his bail include restrictions that he may not have any unsupervised contact with his three daughters, who are all younger than 11, pending the outcome of an S.C. Department of Social Services investigation.
Jenerette, who is an instructor at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, N.C., also is not allowed to leave South Carolina without first informing the 15th Judicial Circuit solicitor's office, according to another condition of his bail.
During the bond hearing, Jenerette, 59, largely averted his eyes from television and newspaper photographers.
Magistrate Aaron Butler asked if he had any comments or questions about the charges or the restrictions placed on his bail.
"I can say that I'm certainly not a flight risk," Jenerette said. "I retired to this community from the Army in 1992, and I'm very active in the community."
He added that his lawyer, Walt Wiley of North Myrtle Beach, was not able to attend the 3 p.m. bond hearing.
DSS officials took his daughters into emergency protective custody, court records show.
An arrest warrant states that Jenerette engaged in sexual intercourse with his stepdaughter, who was younger than 10 at the time, while vacationing in Garden City Beach in December 1972.
Jenerette-Begg provided statements alleging that these crimes that have been corroborated by independent witnesses as to the time, place and opportunity, according to the warrant.
The arrest warrant also states that Jenerette "admitted the crimes in a taped conversation with the victim that was recorded by agents of the state law enforcement agencies."
Jenerette-Begg said her mother was once married to Van Jenerette. In a telephone interview Friday, she said she contacted local police and the State Law Enforcement Division earlier this year, which led to an investigation.
She said Jenerette sexually abused her from the age of 5 until she was older than 20.
Jenerette-Begg has been writing about the allegations on an Internet blog since earlier this year.
She said she created the blog when she saw that Jenerette and his wife, Katherine Jenerette, who also has run for public office, were becoming increasingly political.
"This has nothing to do with politics," said Jenerette-Begg. "They are using the public arena to tell lies."
She said she was bothered when she found that Jenerette did not acknowledge her sister as one of his children on Web sites about him and his current wife.
She said he has seven children, including four with Katherine Jenerette.
Jenerette-Begg said she had parted ways with her stepfather years ago.
Katherine Jenerette was contacted by phone Friday, but she declined comment.
Katherine Jenerette resigned earlier this month from her position on North Myrtle Beach's Planning Commission.
In a letter to city officials, Jenerette stated that she was resigning from the post because she had received a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves and had been called to active duty for training, therefore she was unable to devote her full attention to the commission.
Since then, the council has not appointed anyone to the position, city officials said.
At the hearing Friday, Van Jenerette said his wife is making arrangements to come home.
Greg Hembree, solicitor for the 15th Judicial Circuit, said Friday that Jenerette is being charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature because law officials had to look at what the statues were in 1972.
"The laws weren't the same in 1972 dealing with criminal sexual crimes," he said. "That was the law enforced at that time."
Hembree, who said he was aware of Jenerette-Begg's blog, said if the incident had happened today and charges were filed, it would be criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
The allegations by Van Jenerette's stepdaughter have been investigated by the State Law Enforcement Division, the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety, the Horry County Police Department and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation.
Staff writer Jonathan Tressler contributed to this report.
“The charges stem from Jenerette-Begg’s allegations that he sexually assaulted her in 1972. She is now 41 years old. “
Some thing smells here ... .
1972?
If they want to post the political affiliations of molesters and perverts, I say go for it. But lets do it for ALL of them. Lessee how that works out, shall we?
This isn’t passing the smell test.
From your link:
“Van has been invited to speak in many forums. He was a keynote speaker at the National Deliberation Day Conference, Rider University, NJ, in 1997, and a speaker at the Interracial Solidarity March, Washington D.C., in 1996. Van also has been a guest host of conservative Talk Radio programs, an invited speaker at the Halifax Community College Diversity Forum 2000 and was the keynote speaker at the South Carolina State Capitol in Columbia on the Bill of Rights Day commemoration in December 2000. Recently, Van spoke in Washington on “American Foreign Policy and Worldwide Force Deployment on the Korean DMZ.”(June 2001) and at the FREE REPUBLIC Annual Conference 2001 at Seabrook Island S.C. on “The US Constitution and the Rule of Law.” and his treatise on “Bibles & Gunpowder: The foundations of the American Revolution.” He has authored numerous articles and journal pieces and is currently working on a book, “Myths, Lies, Truth and Politics: Ingredients of a New American Society” and is co-authoring a book, “Against all Enemies Foreign and Domestic: The Sons of the American Revolution in America’s Civil War “ with his wife, Katherine.”
This couple sounds like the ideal patriotic, CHRISTIAN, family. Maybe that’s the REAL problem.
Please... lets not be like the democrats. WE hold our own accountable.
The political affiliation was not only disclosed but very prominent. This person was only a candidate, not an elected official in a far removed election. The bias just screams in this reporting.
I pray that the charges aren't true.
You are right it does not pass the smell test.
Could this be the case of a therapist suggesting she was sexually abused and she has repressed memories so therefore it must be right since the therapist says so.....
This is a wait and see situation.
Nose out of joint?
“She said she was bothered when she found that Jenerette did not acknowledge her sister as one of his children on Web sites about him and his current wife. “
“She said he has seven children, including four with Katherine Jenerette.”
“Jenerette-Begg said she had parted ways with her stepfather years ago.”
Well not entirely. She’s looking for attention. I suspect she is another flaming liberal trying to bring her step father down.
This isn’t the dark ages ... SUDDENLY as the guy gets “more political” and refuses to acknowledge her - brings this forward - when it supposedly around 1972?
Smells funny to me.
“The arrest warrant also states that Jenerette “admitted the crimes in a taped conversation with the victim that was recorded by agents of the state law enforcement agencies.”
That did catch my eye too ... I’d like to hear just what he admitted to.
“The political affiliation was not only disclosed but very prominent. This person was only a candidate, not an elected official in a far removed election. The bias just screams in this reporting.”
THAT is what really got my attention - the PARTY and his background - VERY CONSERVATIVE.
Often you have to HUNT for the political party - here is SCREAMS REPUBLICAN.
The key words,sounds like.
Police being corrupt? It’s not as though that is UNTHINKABLE? Sex with a cop? Not unthinkable. All kinds of scenarios could apply there.
We need to read or hear just what he admitted to on this tape. Many times things are taken out of context. It’s obvious this one was going to try her best to trap him. We’ll have to wait and see.
“I’m still waiting for 60 minutes to cover Hillary’s illegal campaign funding.”
DOn’t hold your breath!
Agreed.
Possible, but not likely. What struck me as odd is that she claims abuse past 20. 20???? Uh, yeah. Its still rape when under 18, but .... when she’s still involved as an adult it does’t paint her as much a victim as a lolita.
Where are ya now, Van?
“You do not need worry if you do not put yourself in such a position in most cases. By the way the admission on tape says a lot. Lets not overlook the facts but he is entitled to be heard in court and not guilty until judgment is rendered. Flaming liberal are pretty strong words from yourself. Seems you are convicting her without any accusations yet.”
Actually, YOU and others have already CONVICTED him.
Innocent until proven guilty is how I see it.
Same Van Jenrette I guess. I remember him
She seems to be running for state office as a Republican.
Remember Gary Condit? He was identified as Rep. Gary Condit (CA) on virtually every news story. He was a Democrat! Every liberal I know thought that he was a republican!
Here is a link to the arrest warrant.
At her blog she says she was banned from the freeper site.
How horrible some of the things she says there...absolutely tragic. Medea lives on.
>>Possible, but not likely. What struck me as odd is that she claims abuse past 20. 20???? Uh, yeah. Its still rape when under 18, but .... when she’s still involved as an adult it does’t paint her as much a victim as a lolita.<<
If he raped a girl under the age of 10, he is a monster that should be tried and executed.
If he conditioned her from a young age to actually sexually with an older man that is even more monstrous, and I don’t understand how you can attack the girl. They have a tape of him confessing.
“She seems to be running for state office as a Republican.”
I see .... thanks ... that helps explain the remark about them becoming “too political”.
If so, he's a scumbag that needs to go to jail for a very long time.
IIRC I met this guy at the Linda Tripp dinner in Charleston.
She did run for the State Senate a couple of years ago, she lost a close race with a lot of shady things going on in several rural, democrat controlled counties. She is currently on active duty with the US Army, overseas. Hopefully, she’ll be able to get home quickly and get her children out of state custody.
Interesting point you make. After age 18 it can’t possibly be statutory rape.
But could it violate laws against incest? Maybe. And if so, is she also guilty?
Where’s her blog?
Can you post a link to her blog? I’m going to go search for it, but if you’ve got it....
That appears to be an archive copy of this current profile which is still active. Link in reply #2.
>>
I have a friend that was severely assaulted by her husband yet she stayed with him.... honestly I have to admit I have a bit of contempt for her in that she allowed herself to remain a victim. Its just not something I understand. Weak willed perhaps?<<
I’m just guessing but its so common that they must either be getting something from the relationship or else they fear something worse.
With a girl like the one in the article, if her story is true, and she was conditioned for sex by her father figure from before she was 10 then it would be a miracle if she wasn’t screwed up.
I know better than to take the LIBERAL media at its word.
I also know the LIBERAL media gets off on trashing any kind of conservative and if wrong doesn’t acknowledge it so the person is left with a ruined reputation.
quick read, she has serious issues. Certainly her psychosis could jive with her allegations. Alternatively, she may have had failure and anxiety and spun a web around it to deflect blame and channel hatred. There’s not enough evidence to support one or the other yet (at least in this thread).
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