Philadelphia NOW: Williams Should Prosecute DNC Sexual Assault Case

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, center, accompanied by investigators Marc Costanzo, left, and Frank Fina, speaks during a news conference Monday, Jan. 27, 2014, in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) released a statement today demanding that District Attorney Seth Williams prosecute the sexual assault reported by Gwen Snyder during the Democratic National Convention.

“Time and again, this organization has had to call on District Attorney Williams to simply DO HIS JOB,” the statement reads, referencing his previous handling of employees who were involved in the state’s “porngate” scandal. 

At approximately 2 a.m. on Wednesday during the convention, Snyder, a member of the Sanders Delegation, was at a hotel bar when a male delegate allegedly pulled her into an unsolicited hug, then began licking her breast. Snyder, who filed a police report later that day, was reportedly unimpressed by the ill-preparedness of the DNC in reacting to such a scenario. Philadelphia NOW has taken up her crusade. According to the statement, Snyder was told the D.A. “has declined to prosecute, despite multiple witnesses to the immediate aftermath of the attack, and despite clarity on the fact that she did not consent, because they ‘can’t prove’ that the attacker knew that she wasn’t consenting, because he was drunk.”

“I’m beyond disappointed by the D.A.’s office current position on this matter,” said NOW President Natalie Catin in the statement. “Sexual harassment must not go unchecked. It sets a terrible precedent and sends the wrong message. Being drunk is NEVER an excuse for a woman to be violated, whether it’s on a college campus, in a work function or at a hotel. This is a total missed opportunity for the city of Philadelphia to stand up for women’s safety.”

“We call on the D.A.’s office to combat sexual harassment in all forms and reverse this decision immediately,” Catin said.

The D.A.’s office told Philadelphia magazine today that, after a conversation with Snyder on Monday evening, it will “do some additional investigation.”