The Democratic Party of Georgia released their second television ad of the general election cycle, this one attacking Republican Brian Kemp, on Wednesday.
The ad titled ‘Abuser’ goes after Kemp for failing to revoke the licenses of massage-related businesses that have been tied to allegations of sexual abuse. The Secretary of State’s office oversees licensing, but the sanctions and punishment of license holders usually rests in the hands of the state boards.
Here is the voiceover of the ad:
The abuser pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman during a massage. She told him to stop. This wasn’t his first offense. Yet Brian Kemp’s office, which is responsible for overseeing licensing of Georgia massage therapists, renewed the abuser’s license. Let that sink in for a moment. Brian Kemp’s office renewed the abuser’s license. If he isn’t protecting the victims, just who is Brian Kemp protecting?
The Democratic Party said the following in their press release sent Wednesday morning:
Today, the Democratic Party of Georgia launched a statewide television ad and a website to share with voters the truth about Brian Kemp’s record. The ad explains that multiple massage therapists who sexually abused female clients were allowed to keep their licenses due to inaction by Brian Kemp’s office. The Secretary of State’s office is responsible for licensing and regulating massage therapists in Georgia. Despite abuse complaints reported to his office, media reports, court proceedings, and even a guilty plea, Brian Kemp continued to put women at risk by allowing abusers to keep their licenses.
If Brian Kemp wasn’t protecting the victims, exactly who was he protecting? He was protecting himself and his campaign donor. Kemp received a large campaign contribution from the former franchise owner of one of the massage clinics involved in this scandal.
The Georgia Democratic Party also created a website with information on what they call ‘Georgia Massage Scandal.” Visit –> www.georgiamassagescandal.com.
You can watch the ad below:
Full script at bottom of article.
Wednesday’s ad comes on the heels of the Kemp campaign releasing a positive ad, showcasing Kemp’s wife Marty, on Tuesday. Read more about that below.
This is the second ad campaign the Georgia Democrats have released since the GOP runoff election in July. The previous ad showcased Stacey Abrams and refuted claims made by Republicans that she owed taxes when she made a personal loan to her gubernatorial campaign.
Ga Democrats Release Ad Attributing RGA Ad to Kemp Campaign, Refute ‘Taxes Owed’ Claims
‘Abuser’ script from press release of Georgia Democrats.
SCRIPT:
(Voiceover:) The abuser pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman during a massage. She told him to stop. This wasn’t his first offense. Yet Brian Kemp’s office, which is responsible for overseeing licensing of Georgia massage therapists, renewed the abuser’s license. Let that sink in for a moment. Brian Kemp’s office renewed the abuser’s license. If he isn’t protecting the victims, just who is Brian Kemp protecting?
BACKGROUND:
Script | Source |
VO:
The abuser pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman during a massage. GFX A masseur sexually assaulted a woman WSB-TV, 11.17.14 |
“2 Investigates: Allegations of sexual misconduct within popular massage chain,” WSB-TV, 11/17/2014
During the massage session [Victim] said Knox molested her. Knox pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal battery. |
WOMAN:
She told him to stop.
GFX She told him to stop
|
“Woman Says Masseur Sexually Assaulted Her,” Lisa Coston, Courthouse News, 12/28/2012
[Victim] was shocked and frightened by Knox’s conduct and sexual aggression and immediately pulled away from his fingers, “told him to stop,” and pulled the sheet up to her lower back to recover her buttocks. |
VO:
This wasn’t his first offense.
GFX: Courthouse News, 12.28.12
|
“Woman Says Masseur Sexually Assaulted Her,” Lisa Coston, Courthouse News, 12/28/2012
Kelly later told [Victim] that before defendant Knox sexually assaulted [Victim], Kelly was aware of two complaints of similar assaults by Knox within the prior year, one by a customer and one by a female employee, both of whom said that Knox had touched their vaginas during massages. |
VO:
Yet Brian Kemp, whose office is responsible for overseeing licensing of Georgia massage therapists…
|
“When massage therapists cross the line, state board rarely acts,” Johnny Edwards and Lois Norder, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 05/04/2018
But the state licensing agency charged with protecting the public, the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy, did nothing after she complained. … The board falls under the umbrella of the Secretary of State’s Office… …. No one is assigned to monitor news reports or set up Google alerts about massage therapists being arrested, nor is anyone keeping up with criminal indictments, convictions, or civil complaints, the AJC found. What’s more, state law has no mandatory reporting requirements. If a clinic fires a therapist, it doesn’t have to tell the board. Therapists don’t have to report each other if they suspect violations. |
…renewed the abuser’s license.
GFX Brian Kemp Office renewed the therapist’s license MDJ, 7.20.2018
|
“Massage therapists, campaign donations become issue in Kemp/Cagle Race,” Don McKee, Marietta Daily Journal, 7/20/2018
On top of that, the state agency allowed Knox to renew his license in 2014 before it lapsed without any action by the board in 2016 – which should never have happened, Cobb Solicitor General Barry Morgan said. The Board of Massage Therapy, under Kemp’s purview, has not sanctioned or revoked any of the accused therapists’ licenses, even though an investigator for his office looked into at least one complaint. |
VO:
Let that sink in for a moment. Brian Kemp’s office renewed the abuser’s license GFX Brian Kemp Office renewed the therapist’s license MDJ, 7.20.2018 |
“Massage therapists, campaign donations become issue in Kemp/Cagle Race,” Don McKee, Marietta Daily Journal, 7/20/2018
On top of that, the state agency allowed Knox to renew his license in 2014 before it lapsed without any action by the board in 2016 – which should never have happened, Cobb Solicitor General Barry Morgan said. |
VO:
If he isn’t protecting the victims… …just who is Brian Kemp protecting? GFX Brian Kemp |
Jessica Szilagyi is a former Statewide Contributor for AllOnGeorgia.com.
Nelda Smith
September 5, 2018 at 7:31 pm
Can’t believe anything the Democrats endorse or say…it’s all propaganda. Democrats have pushed The USA into the toilet.
Nelda Smith
September 5, 2018 at 7:34 pm
#WalkAway
Paul
September 7, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Right, the Secretary of State goes through every licensing especially massage parlors and makes the decision on revoking their licenses. This ad can’t be any more stupid.
William Blake Arrington
September 9, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Looks like he’s saying those Israelis cuss on their pages. No it’s not artistic it’s an cleavage to fight war. On the delegates side the project stinks but the education. Pause read live again break down but the rescue. America but the rescue. Yes! they swear. Politics are 300% 7% productive. Georgia is good looking in bad times. Yes there good for the blessing the dirt we smell everyday during the rain that was an day. Nonchalaunt is hard to conquor easy to resist and still do good.
Gina
September 14, 2018 at 6:55 am
As a therapist, this ad is sickening. No matter what happened, those were isolated incidents and this ad to me was in a way making all massage therapists look bad. We decent law abiding therapist already have a tough time keeping our names clean because of idiots who use the license for bad and an ad like this seems as if it is trying to group us all into that disgusting category.
William Arrington
October 2, 2018 at 12:05 am
As a qüaldelbalm it is the dentist that cases routine is that i was saying. She gets 150.000$ every 300th tooth. Not super cosmetic coverage people’ real work real emotions. Things in a hurry can been legal uncovered and addressed. Some one was scared to come forward many persons use ways to tell their story. Complicated fines to get simplicity into practice. Some one ran their mouth and values were taught.
William Arrington
October 3, 2018 at 10:06 pm
A simple ad campaign protection item. I already proved myself wrong but that is what the article is. It a negative reinforcer strategy. It’s tame enough to show Kemp’s ferocity against child abuse. The scandle gives him a tone in his lower position to harmony his seat to. If MAY Be BEOWULF.! I think he personalized red October. Makes his veiw of this a music video. But her human so his values of the inate being offend him but our law is a $340 fine. Tune up lesson.