A former skater accuses the ex-partner who has committed suicide for having sexually abused her for two years

Cindy Boren, The Washington Post

published

15:04 PDT, Tuesday, May 21, 2019

A former couple partner of John Coughlin, the American figure skater who died after a suicide in January, accuses him of having sexually assaulted him for two years.

Bridget Namiotka launched the charge on Facebook, responding to a message of support to Coughlin. "I'm sorry, but John has injured at least 10 people, including myself," she wrote. "He molested me sexually for 2 years. [sic]. "

She added, "Someone's innocent does not hang in. Think of the victims when you speak out for what he's done to at least ten girls."

"Think of all the girls that he hurt."

"The grooming is happening, it happened and hurt a lot of girls, think about the victims."

Tara Modlin, Coughlin's agent, denied the charges reported by USA Today. "It seems like you want me to comment on an unstable person [sic] Facebook Comment – I do not really understand your question, "she texted a USA Today reporter. . . my suggestion is to call some of his other partners. . . "

John Manly, the lawyer representing Namiotka and two other underage women allegedly assaulted by Coughlin, said his reaction on social media was caused by the frustration of critics of Coughlin.

"My client and the other two women I represent have had a whirlwind of support from the author on the part of people who literally do not know anything about the case," Manly said at a news conference. telephone interview. "They have been accused of killing him and I think what you have seen from my client is finally, you know, a really brave act to speak up and say:" did that and I was a child. "

Coughlin, a two-time US champion with two other partners, teamed up with Namiotka, 29, from 2004 to 2007, when she was between 14 and 17 and between 18 and 21 years old. They won three medals in the Junior Grand Prix series and placed ninth at the senior (Olympic) level at the 2007 US Nationals.

Coughlin was 33 when he hanged on January 18 in his father's father's home in Kansas City, a day after his temporary suspension by the US Center for SafeSport, an independent non-profit organization that is "determined to end all forms of" abuse in sport "At that time, USA Today had reported three sexual indictments against him, allegations that he had described as" unfounded " In February, SafeSport announced that his death had effectively ended the investigation and that a month later, he would not reopen the case, despite a culture "that allowed that the grooming and abuses are not controlled too long "and" that can not continue. "Coughlin's death, said the organization in a statement at the time, meant that he was not Was no longer a potential threat.

In early January, Coughlin told USA Today that SafeSport had prevented him from talking about these allegations, an assertion refuted by the organization. "Although I wish to be able to speak freely about unfounded allegations against me, the SafeSport rules prevent me from doing so because the case is still pending," he wrote. "I only notice that the notice of allegation SafeSport itself stated that an allegation did not in any way constitute a finding of SafeSport or that its allegations were well-founded."

Manly stated that he and his client felt that American figure skating could have put an end to these abuses.

"The real tragedy here is that my client believes, like me, that what Mr. Coughlin was doing was known to people in US Skating Skate who were able to stop him and who also knew that he was there. He had done, "he said. I said. "… When you have multiple accusers over several generations who do not know each other and tell the same story, this is not a good sign if you are trying to show that you are innocent.

"… Instead, they allowed Mr. Coughlin, and then his followers, to tell this false story that he was wrongly accused by crazy women, and nothing could be further from the truth. it was in 1969 and not in 2019. "

The USFS executive director, David Raith, said in January that it was "imperative" that SafeSport finish its investigation and encouraged it to hire a "third party investigator or outside counsel" for provide assistance. In a statement on Tuesday, the American figure skating said that the safety and well-being of the athletes remained a "top priority".

"We fully support all victims of sexual abuse and misconduct and encourage anyone who has been abused or suspected of abuse or misconduct to report it to the police forces. local order, the Center for SafeSport or American figure skating, "he said. "We condemn all acts of intimidation and shame of those who share their story.The intimidation and shame of the victims are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."