Brooklyn State Senator Kevin Parker has formally denied the rape allegations against him and claimed that the Adult Survivors Act, which allowed the related lawsuit to proceed, is unconstitutional. The act, which expired in November 2023, permitted alleged victims to file civil lawsuits against their accused attackers within a certain window, even if the state’s statute of limitations had expired.
Parker, known for his hot-headed nature, had voted in favor of the legislation in 2021 and even boasted about his support in a statement denying the rape charges shortly after they were levied in November. However, in court records filed this month, Parker now argues that the very law he voted for is unconstitutional.
The allegations against Parker stem from an incident in 2004 when he was allegedly working with Olga Jean-Baptiste on relief efforts for Haiti. Jean-Baptiste claims that Parker forcibly raped her at her home, a charge that Governor Hochul has described as “deeply disturbing.”
Parker’s Senate representative and his lawyer have not responded to requests for comment regarding his latest legal filing in the case. Lonnie Hart Jr., the same lawyer who represented Parker in a previous criminal case, is defending him against the sexual assault charges.
This is not the first time Parker has faced legal trouble. In 2005, he was charged with misdemeanor assault after assaulting a traffic cop who had issued him a ticket. A few years later, he attacked a photographer from the New York Post and damaged his camera. Parker was found guilty of misdemeanor criminal mischief and was required to attend anger-management classes.
1 Response
Commenter: “Senator Parker’s denial of the rape allegations and his claim that the Adult Survivors Act is unconstitutional is like a person trying to extinguish a fire by pouring gasoline on it. Instead of addressing the serious allegations and supporting survivors, he is adding fuel to the controversy and undermining the very law that aims to protect victims of sexual assault. It’s important to critically examine his arguments and consider the potential ulterior motives behind his denial.”