Tasha Kaminsky writes a lengthy public Facebook post accusing progressive politicians and organizations of accepting money from Nick Apperson in exchange for silence. She characterizes the $2,700 campaign gift that Cori Bush received from Apperson as part of a broader pattern of bribery that bought complicity. Key excerpts:
“one of the most wounding lessons i have learned in the past year is how deeply broken and dysfunctional the progressive/activist political and nonprofit scene is in st. louis. they share their #metoo stories, they make their statements about believing women, they say that they are different and the cycle will end with them.”
“they hid evidence. they kept bribes. they refused to hold their peers accountable. they slandered me. they lied to me. they extorted me. they screamed at me. i would not believe half of the things that have happened if they hadn’t happened to me.”
“i have spent a year walking past lawn signs and scrolling past posts for these people and places. i have spent a year being solicited for gifts of time and money to their campaigns and orgs. i have spent a year overwhelmed by mutuals. i have spent a year realizing these progressive activists and leaders sold the safety of their most vulnerable constituents for social capital, votes, $2,700, rent, starter loans, and positions of power.”
“politicians are legally required to keep records of gifts. they file easily accessible reports which disclose names and amounts. anyone can see who you take money from and where they work. anyone can see who you have endorsed.”
“nonprofits that operate above board file 990s which are easily accessible. anyone can see who sits on your boards or gave a major gift. anyone can see if you have failed to disclose or are operating under the table.”
“imagine what a capable journalist could access.”
“i’m ready to talk about it now. are you ready to listen? because the current transcription is wrong.”
