According to a group of women advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, an expose in\u00a0Huffington Post<\/i>\u00a0published<\/a>\u00a0<\/b>this week underscores the urgent need for passage of the Adult Survivors Act (A.648 Rosenthal\/S.66 Hoylman).<\/p>\n Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, Evelyn Wang, the wife of mayoral hopeful Andrew Yang and Marissa Hoechstetter are among the group of women who are fighting for their day in court. They appear in a public service announcement for the Adult Survivors Act produced by Safe Horizon, which you watch\u00a0here<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n The Adult Survivors Act<\/a> is similar to the Child Victims Act; it would provide a one-year lookback window for survivors who were abused when they were 18 years old or over. If passed, adult survivors would have one year in which to file a civil claim, no matter how long ago the abuse happened, even if the statute of limitations has expired.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Huffington Post<\/i>\u00a0report centers around former New York City sex crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein. It alleges that she weighed in on ongoing cases in the DA\u2019s office, influencing her successor, Martha Bashford.<\/p>\n From the article:<\/p>\n \u201cBashford was the prosecutor who decided not to charge (Harvey) Weinstein over his alleged groping of the Filipina-Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. Fairstein had been the one to introduce Bashford to Weinstein\u2019s attorney, promising he was a person of great integrity. The main piece of evidence in that case \u2014 NYPD audio of Weinstein admitting that he groped Gutierrez \u2014 later served as the smoking gun in Ronan Farrow\u2019s\u00a0<\/i>Weinstein expos\u00e9<\/i><\/a>\u00a0in The New Yorker. In the midst of Weinstein\u2019s 2020 criminal rape trial, Bashford\u00a0<\/i>resigned<\/i><\/a>, although she and the DA\u2019s office denied the timing had anything to do with the case.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n “Several of us were shocked, but maybe not surprised, by the reporting around Linda Fairstein yesterday (by\u00a0Huffington Post<\/i>). It\u2019s a great example of why we need the Adults Survivors Act,” Marissa Hoechstetter told\u00a0Capital Tonight.<\/i><\/p>\n “That story really hit home to me,” Hoechstetter continued. “It echoed my experience, reporting sexual assault to the DA\u2019s office and finding out afterward that there were campaign contributions and other things that let my perpetrator really get away with it.”<\/p>\n Hoechstetter was among 19 other women who\u00a0accused<\/a>\u00a0<\/b>gynecologist Robert Hadden of sexual abuse\u00a0while he examined them.<\/p>\n Under a 2015 plea deal, Hadden would give up his medical license, but he would serve no jail time, and wouldn\u2019t be listed on New York\u2019s sex offender registry.<\/p>\n The reason Hadden received the \u201cdeal of the century,\u201d as it was dubbed at the time by a criminal defense attorney, is also a topic of speculation in this 2018\u00a0Buzzfeed<\/i>\u00a0story<\/a>\u00a0<\/b>about Hoechstetter\u2019s case.<\/p>\n The upshot? Hadden\u2019s attorney contributed $250 to Manhattan DA Cy Vance\u2019s campaign fund on the same day that she filed the defense team\u2019s response to the case.<\/p>\n As of today, over 200 women have now come forward claiming that Hadden had abused them. He was federally indicted last fall for abuse against minors. The case is scheduled to be heard in January of 2022.<\/p>\n Hoechstetter says that because the Manhattan DA\u2019s office is \u201ccompromised\u201d in her opinion, it\u2019s time to pass the Adult Survivors Act and put the power back into the hands of people who want justice.<\/p>\n Read the original article here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, Evelyn Wang, and Marissa Hoechstetter appear in Safe Horizon’s PSA supporting the Adult Survivors Act; a law to help sexual assault survivors pursue justice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":{"id":9685,"alt_text":"Support children and families in domestic violence shelters","caption":"Peggy Duffy Memorial fund","description":"Support children and families in domestic violence shelters","media_type":"image","media_details":{"width":512,"height":512,"file":"2022\/07\/Safe-Horizon-Flower-Logo_TransparentThumbnail.png","filesize":31715,"sizes":{"medium":{"file":"Safe-Horizon-Flower-Logo_TransparentThumbnail-300x300.png","width":300,"height":300,"mime-type":"image\/png","filesize":18595,"source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Safe-Horizon-Flower-Logo_TransparentThumbnail-300x300.png"},"thumbnail":{"file":"Safe-Horizon-Flower-Logo_TransparentThumbnail-150x150.png","width":150,"height":150,"mime-type":"image\/png","filesize":8008,"source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Safe-Horizon-Flower-Logo_TransparentThumbnail-150x150.png"}},"image_meta":{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}},"post":9684,"source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Safe-Horizon-Flower-Logo_TransparentThumbnail.png"},"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[1419,1421,403,103],"class_list":["post-9113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safe-horizon-in-the-news","tag-adult-survivors-act","tag-asa","tag-child-sexual-abuse","tag-rape","issue-rape-and-sexual-assault"],"acf":{"page_header_title":"","title_font_size":"42","page_header_excerpt":"","sub-headline_placement":false,"page_header_image":false,"custom_scripts":false,"show_author_bio":false,"original_url":"","related_initiative_title":"What Is the ASA?","related_initiative_link":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/adult-survivors-act","related_initiative_link_text":"Learn About the Adult Survivors Act","featured_posts":[{"ID":10506,"post_author":"21","post_date":"2023-11-29 15:34:09","post_date_gmt":"2023-11-29 20:34:09","post_content":"\n The Adult Survivors Act (ASA) is a New York State law that created a one-time, one-year lookback window for adult sexual assault survivors who were outside the statute of limitations. The one year look back window ended in November 2023. Many legal cases were brought under this law including several against prominent individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Safe Horizon ran public awareness campaigns to tell survivors in New York about their rights under the ASA. Our experts shed light on this topic in several media articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz Roberts, CEO of Safe Horizon, talks with Ministry Watch<\/strong>: The Adult Sexual Abuse Survivors \u2018Claim Revival\u2019 Window Ended on Thanksgiving<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz Roberts and Michael Polenberg, Safe Horizon\u2019s Vice President Government Affairs talk to New York Times<\/strong>: A Final Wave of Sex-Abuse Lawsuits as One Year Window Closes in New York<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz Roberts talks to CNN<\/strong>: Advocates Push For More Permanent Legal Change After 1 Year Window Closes For New Suits Under New York\u2019s Adult Survivors Act<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks to The Independent<\/strong>: The End of the Sexual Assault Law That Sent Shockwaves Through Every Industry<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks to Law360<\/strong>: Big Names Sued Under Adult Survivors Act As Window Closes<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks to Financial Times<\/strong>: New York Law Unleashes \u2018Avalanche\u2019 of Historic Sexual Abuse Claims<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks to Fortune<\/strong>: The \u201cGroundbreaking\u201d Law That Inspired Cassie and E. Jean Carroll to Seek Justice Is Expiring. Sexual Assault Survivors Need More Like It<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks to Politico<\/strong>: The Impact of the Adult Survivors Act<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks to News10 Albany<\/strong>: Adult Survivors Act Lookback Window Set to Expire Soon<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks to Newsday<\/strong>: Bulk of Adult Survivor Lawsuits Are Filed By Women Former Inmates<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks News12 Bronx<\/strong>: The Adult Survivors Act launched over 2,500 Sex Abuse Suits. Now, It\u2019s Expiring<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz Roberts talks to Associated Press<\/strong>: The Adult Survivors Act launched over 2,500 Sex Abuse Suits. Now, It\u2019s Expiring<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Polenberg talks to NPR<\/strong>: What The Abuse Lawsuit Against Diddy, One of Hip-Hop's Most Powerful Men, Means<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n At Safe Horizon we know that trauma takes time, and if you are a survivor of sexual assault you can consider sharing your story with anyone you feel safe with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking to a clinical professional, such as a counselor can also help. Safe Horizon\u2019s Counseling Center<\/strong><\/a> works with survivors of crime in New York City. It does not matter when the victimization occurred, our staff will conduct an intake session and develop a recovery plan that works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Community Program<\/strong><\/a> staff can also work with you to review your options including legal options and they can provide counseling and referrals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are outside of New York City, you can contact the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN)<\/strong><\/a> for a referral to resources in your area, that may include counseling. Your health insurance provider may also be able to help with a referral for counseling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of whether you are located in New York City or elsewhere, and regardless if you are eligible to pursue legal action or not, please remember that only you can decide what is right for you, and that may be different from one survivor to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","post_title":"Adult Survivors Act Media Wrap Up","post_excerpt":"Adult Survivors Act (ASA) created a one year look back for sexual assault survivors to pursue legal action. Safe Horizon provides context of this law in the media, and connects survivors to resources.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"adult-survivors-act-media-wrap-up","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-09-03 17:42:53","post_modified_gmt":"2025-09-03 21:42:53","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/?p=10506","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10157,"post_author":"12","post_date":"2023-05-09 17:07:49","post_date_gmt":"2023-05-09 21:07:49","post_content":"May 9, 2023\r\n\r\nJournalist E. Jean Carroll filed a civil lawsuit against her abuser, former President Donald Trump, under the New York State Adult Survivors Act<\/a>.\r\n\r\nCEO, Liz Roberts, issued the following statement:\r\n\r\n\u201cToday\u2019s verdict reinforces the power of survivors' voices and the critical role that the Adult Survivors Act can serve in the healing process. For decades, trauma, stigma, material threat and restrictive statutes of limitations have kept countless survivors just like E. Jean Carroll locked out of justice and let many abusers walk away scot-free. Ms. Carroll\u2019s courage throughout this process is a testament to her determination, yet it also highlights the brutal reality that survivors often face in court. Let me be clear: there is no \u201cright\u201d way to be raped and there is no \u201cperfect victim.<\/strong>\u201d\r\n\r\nSafe Horizon encourages all survivors seeking support or information about the Adult Survivors Act visit www.safehorizon.org\/asa<\/a>.\r\n\r\nFor Press inquiries, please contact: communications@safehorizon.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>","post_title":"E. Jean Carroll Verdict","post_excerpt":"Let me be clear: there is no \u201cright\u201d way to be raped and there is no \u201cperfect victim.\" E. Jean Carroll\u2019s courage throughout this process is a testament to her determination, yet it also highlights the brutal reality that survivors often face in court. ","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"e-jean-carroll-verdict","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-06-10 14:53:40","post_modified_gmt":"2025-06-10 18:53:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/?p=10157","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}]},"yoast_head":"\n![\"ASA](\"http:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_1758.jpeg\")
Media Coverage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alternatives to Legal Action: Safe Horizon is Here to Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n