On Dec. 1, as headlines across the country blared with news about Matt Lauer’s surprise firing from the “Today” show for sexual misconduct, a woman named Jules Woodson tapped out a short email. It ran only about 80 words but was nearly 20 years in the making. “Do you remember?” the subject line read.
“Do you remember that night that you were supposed to drive me home from church and instead drove me to a deserted back road and sexually assaulted me?” Woodson wrote. “Do you remember how you acted like you loved me and cared about me in order for me to cooperate in such acts,
In a message on the church’s website, he admitted to a “sexual incident” with a high school student at the time. Highpoint’s main pastor, Chris Conlee, also released a statement supporting Savage. And last Sunday, the pastor addressed his congregation about the allegations, but provided little detail.
As Savage finished his remarks, he was greeted with a 20-second standing ovation from Highpoint’s congregation.
“It was dark outside,” Woodson wrote. “As he was driving me toward my home, he passed the turn he should have made to go to my house. I asked him where he was going. I don’t remember his exact response, but it was something along the lines of ‘you’ll see’ or ‘it’s a surprise.’ I know for sure he did not tell me where he was taking me. I remember feeling special and excited, as in my mind, he obviously wanted to spend more time with me before taking me home. I assumed we were going to get ice cream.”
Savage pulled into an isolated area and parked the car. He then exposed himself to Woodson and had her perform oral sex on him, she said. Savage also fondled her breasts, Woodson wrote. After five minutes, Savage abruptly stopped. “I remember him pleading, while he was on his knees with his hands up on his head, ‘Oh my god, oh my god. What have I done? Oh my god, I’m so sorry. You can’t tell anyone Jules, please. You have to take this to the grave with you,” Woodson wrote. “My fear and shame quickly turned to anger. I had just been manipulated and used. I swore to him I wouldn’t tell anyone just to get him to stop,” she added. “We both got back in the truck. As he drove me home, I don’t remember there being any conversation. I was in shock.”
Even though she was consumed by “fear, shame, anger and hurt,” Woodson told church leaders about the incident. They told her not to speak to Savage while they handled the situation. But the church took no action. Woodson then confided what had happened to other women in the congregation. Finally, the church’s leaders announced Savage was leaving.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-ovation/?tid=pm_pop_b&utm_term=.f4fea0fb7c9b
“Do you remember that night that you were supposed to drive me home from church and instead drove me to a deserted back road and sexually assaulted me?” Woodson wrote. “Do you remember how you acted like you loved me and cared about me in order for me to cooperate in such acts,
In a message on the church’s website, he admitted to a “sexual incident” with a high school student at the time. Highpoint’s main pastor, Chris Conlee, also released a statement supporting Savage. And last Sunday, the pastor addressed his congregation about the allegations, but provided little detail.
As Savage finished his remarks, he was greeted with a 20-second standing ovation from Highpoint’s congregation.
“It was dark outside,” Woodson wrote. “As he was driving me toward my home, he passed the turn he should have made to go to my house. I asked him where he was going. I don’t remember his exact response, but it was something along the lines of ‘you’ll see’ or ‘it’s a surprise.’ I know for sure he did not tell me where he was taking me. I remember feeling special and excited, as in my mind, he obviously wanted to spend more time with me before taking me home. I assumed we were going to get ice cream.”
Savage pulled into an isolated area and parked the car. He then exposed himself to Woodson and had her perform oral sex on him, she said. Savage also fondled her breasts, Woodson wrote. After five minutes, Savage abruptly stopped. “I remember him pleading, while he was on his knees with his hands up on his head, ‘Oh my god, oh my god. What have I done? Oh my god, I’m so sorry. You can’t tell anyone Jules, please. You have to take this to the grave with you,” Woodson wrote. “My fear and shame quickly turned to anger. I had just been manipulated and used. I swore to him I wouldn’t tell anyone just to get him to stop,” she added. “We both got back in the truck. As he drove me home, I don’t remember there being any conversation. I was in shock.”
Even though she was consumed by “fear, shame, anger and hurt,” Woodson told church leaders about the incident. They told her not to speak to Savage while they handled the situation. But the church took no action. Woodson then confided what had happened to other women in the congregation. Finally, the church’s leaders announced Savage was leaving.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-ovation/?tid=pm_pop_b&utm_term=.f4fea0fb7c9b
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