Hamadeh’s $10,000 reward for information on rival’s attackers rings hollow

Independent Newsmedia/Charlene Bisson

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OPINION — Abe Hamadeh and Bernadette Greene-Placentia are running for the Congressional District 8’s U.S. House seat.

Personally, I default to believing women who come forward with news of an assault. Sadly, I am seeing horrific comments online by Hamadeh supporters. Horrendous comments accusing her of lying or gloating that she deserved it, that they wished they had been there to help and on and on.

The news was appropriately focused on this tragedy, in my opinion. Then came the announcement that Hamadeh was putting up a $10,000 for the arrest and conviction of the men responsible. Frankly, that does not add up for me.

I would like to believe that gesture was sincere but I can’t reconcile it with other facts. Hamadeh voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Not voting for it would have been suicide yet he has not said one word about the 2.5 million pages still not released or the redactions made that exposed the victims’ identities.

Then, Hamadeh objected to extraditing the Tate brothers to the UK, stating, “There should be no extradition of American citizens when the charges are unclear and political.”

Unclear? They’re charged with multiple counts of rape, human trafficking, actual  bodily harm, sexual assault and extreme child pornography.

We have an extradition treaty with the UK signed on March 31, 2003, and entered into force on April 26, 2007. We honor it. They honor it.

I am inclined to think Hamadeh’s $10,000 reward is a diversion. I have not seen one word from him condemning his supporters’ vulgar and hateful comments. Just like his silence about Epstein and defense of the Tates. I think his “reward” should be to lose this election because voters now truly see him.

This writer is using a pen name. Congressional District 8 includes parts of Glendale, Peoria, north Phoenix, Sun City, Sun City West and Surprise.