Purdue Clears Employee in Rape Threat Investigation Against Pro-Life Students

Purdue University says it “did not find sufficient evidence” to take any personnel action against Jamie Newman, a visual-arts department accompanist and composer who was investigated by the school for allegations of threats of rape against pro-life students and their family members.

Though Purdue’s Brian Zink told Breitbart News he was forwarding a statement about the school’s stance, no statement was received by Breitbart News.

According to local news WLFI.com, Purdue released the following statement Thursday night:

Purdue police have interviewed the staff member and numerous other witnesses and did not find sufficient evidence to take action, but will forward the investigatory records to the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor for review. As far as the university is concerned, the speech was repugnant and inconsistent with Purdue values. We don’t condone it, but at this time no personnel action is intended.

Breitbart News attempted email contact with Newman, but he did not respond.

The Lafayette Journal & Courier, however, reported that Newman said the comments he made on Disqus in response to Live Action News posts were taken out of context. Implications that he threatened to rape anyone were “false and defamatory” and “a complete fabrication,” he reportedly said.

Live Action provided some of Newman’s comments to Breitbart News. Brian Gottstein, chief communications officer for the pro-life organization said, “Live Action News removed comments from user “jamiegnewman” because they violated our site’s terms and conditions related to harassment of other users. We do not tolerate commenters harassing other users on our platforms.”

Purdue

 

Additionally, comments from Newman’s account reportedly include:

“No, no, no. I’d only rape someone if you were watching, because i know it would turn you on to see a beautiful new baby conceived in real time. Last I checked, you weren’t my wife.

“Maybe you’d get a thrill holding her down as I rape her, knowing that the three of us would be engaged in the joyful task of making a baby.”

“Of course, folks who believe that women should be compelled to incubate the babies of the guys who’ve raped them would probably have to retroactively self-abort if a woman became president.”

*giggles in a most unmanly way*

“Oh, I’m sorry. So, let me make my intentions quite explicit: I did in fact offer to rape Tom’s wife/daughter/great grandmother. Free of charge, even. I’m generous that way.

Here’s the number for the West Lafayette Police Department: 765-775-5500. Here’s the number for the local FBI office: 765-435-5619. Drop that dime! I could strike at any minute.”

*giggles* (like a girl)

“If I’m wrong, then your benevolent god will send me to hell for making a mistake. That’s the way he rolls, apparently. I’ll deal with it. Thank you for your concern, though.”

According to the local news story, Latrice Young, a Purdue dance student who knows Newman said, “The Mr. Jamie I know, he does joke a lot. He’s pretty laid back, nice, very nice, funny person so I don’t know. I wouldn’t expect Mr. Jamie to say that, no.”

As Breitbart News previously reported, Purdue Students for Life placed posters on campus last week to mark Black History Month. The posters emphasized the disproportionate numbers of black babies aborted in the United States.

“It is an awful precedent. So employees of Purdue University can go around saying they are going to rape people online and that’s okay with them? This man represents their university,” Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America said in a statement.
“My question: Will those on the other side of the abortion issue, those feminists who claim to be for women, now speak out and join us to say that rape threats are never tolerable?”

After the “Hands Up, Don’t Abort” fliers went up, Newman posted comments directly to the Purdue Students for Life’s Facebook site, such as “You folks are vile, racist idiots, who richly deserve all the opprobrium that will be heaped on you as a result of this unbelievably thoughtless, stupid escapade.”

Breitbart News contacted the office of Purdue’s president – former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) – for comment, but was told by Zink that Daniels is out of town and would not be meeting with the pro-life students himself to discuss their concerns. No statement from Daniels’ office was forthcoming.

Breitbart News also requested comment from current Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R), but no immediate response was received.

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