I had a busy day yesterday and only saw the Andrew Falloon story gradually emerge in bits and pieces. Another political mess, and another young political career in tatters. Falloon is reported to have serious mental health issues, it’s not clear whether that contributed to his indiscretion or is as a result, possible a bit of both. His family life is likely under a lot of stress.
And this is another embarrassment for National and a serious blow to Judith Collins trying to present a unified team fighting the election.
The latest on this is Judith Collins saying ‘I can no longer trust his story”.
Reports say that Falloon sent a pornographic picture, not of himself, to a young woman (an 18 year old university student). Without context and detail it’s hard to judge how bad that is.
The woman is likely also under pressure with all the publicity, even though she hasn’t been named.
Police investigated and decided it didn’t justify prosecuting.
Falloon announced he wouldn’t be standing for re-election in September, but Judith Collins says she can’t trust his story and suggests he should resign from Parliament today.
The statements.
Statement From Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon
“Today I spoke to National Party Leader Judith Collins to inform her I will not be contesting the upcoming election.
“As I noted in my maiden speech three years ago, when I was younger I lost three close friends to suicide. It was an extremely difficult period in my life. Unfortunately, recently, another friend took their own life, which has brought back much unresolved grief.
“I have made a number of mistakes and I apologise to those who have been affected.
“Recent events have compounded that situation and reminded me of the need to maintain my own health and wellbeing. I have again been receiving counselling.
“I want to thank Judith for her support during this time and I look forward to helping a new candidate in the Rangitata electorate in any way I can.
“I apologise for this disruption to my colleagues and to those I serve in Mid and South Canterbury.”
That is a sparse and vague statement.
Statement On Andrew Falloon
Hon Judith Collins
Leader of the National Party
“Andrew Fallon has advised me that he will not be standing for re-election.
“The National Party was advised of an issue relating to Andrew late on Friday afternoon and we have dealt with it this morning.
“Andrew is suffering from significant mental health issues and his privacy, and that of his family, must be respected.”
Information has emerged since then. Collins says she can’t trust his story and suggests he should resign from Parliament today.
RNZ: National MP Andrew Falloon to retire at election
Police investigated National MP Andrew Falloon after receiving a report he sent an unsolicited image to a young woman, but determined it did not meet the threshold for prosecution.
The National Party was notified on late Friday afternoon of an alcohol-related incident involving Falloon in which he behaved in a way “unbecoming of an MP”.
Falloon sat down with National Party leader Judith Collins early this morning and after their conversation, he agreed to step down at the election.
PM Ardern’s office received information
The incident relating to Falloon was first raised by an individual who contacted the office of the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Her office passed on the correspondence to the office of Judith Collins, Leader of the Opposition, with that person’s permission.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said all correspondence was treated with confidentiality and all matters to do with Falloon’s resignation were a matter for Judith Collins.
At her weekly post-Cabinet briefing this afternoon, Ardern said her government had no more involvement and it was a matter for the National Party now.
She said she did not know, or seek to know, where the correspondence came from and nor did she seek to know the MP involved.
“The detail I had was reasonably limited,” she said.
NZ Herald – National MP Andrew Falloon quits after sex-text scandal: Message sent to university student
National MP Andrew Falloon’s explanation for the sex-text scandal that ended his political career is understood to be that acquaintances at a party sent the offensive message.
The Herald understands that Falloon’s version of events is that he was at a party several weeks ago and briefly left his phone unattended – and at that time acquaintances used it to send the sexual image in question.
The Herald understands the image was not of himself but was pornographic in nature.
Police confimed last night that an investigation began after receiving a report of an individual sending an “unsolicited image”.
Despite insisting he did not personally send the message, Falloon is believed to have offered his resignation and (Collins) accepted.
Sending harmful content is one of Collins’ zero-tolerance issues.
As Minister of Justice, Collins put up the Harmful Digital Communications legislation which primarily targeted cyber-bullying, and covered the sending of objectionable material.
This is bad news for the apparently unwilling recipient, it is bad news for Falloon, it is bad news for Collins, it is bad news for National, it is bad news for Parliament, and it is another blow to the image of our democracy.
And as usual with political stories their are partisan reactions from holier than thou to stinkier than shit.
It looks like there will be more to go on this story today.
More from RNZ – Judith Collins: National MP Andrew Falloon should resign today
Today Collins told Morning Report she thought Falloon should resign as she could no longer trust his story.
“I think he should resign from Parliament today, now that there are further statements and I can no longer trust his story. I believe that that would be the best thing for him ultimately. He is clearly now with his family and receiving professional assistance. It is I believe better for him, better for the young woman who is my first priority, and for Parliament, that he resigns.
“It was clear to me yesterday that he was admitting what was being alleged, what had been alleged by the young woman.”
Collins said she had not seen the image in question. But she said it was of a pornographic nature and not of a male.
“My first priority yesterday was the young woman who is now dealing with the terrible trauma and I’ve reached out to her and made it very clear that if there’s any assistance I can give I will do so.”
Police investigated Falloon after receiving the report, but determined it did not meet the threshold for prosecution.
“The Prime Minister’s office received complaints with detailed information on or before Wednesday last week. My office was advised late on Friday afternoon that there was the complaint and I was advised myself on Saturday,” Collins said.
She said she called Falloon to a meeting at her office in Parliament on Monday, and he offered his resignation.
The image had been described to Collins as “entirely inappropriate and a disgrace”.
Collins said the message was sent “about two or three weeks ago”.
“What I have been advised from the message that was sent to the Prime Minister was that the matter was referred to the New Zealand Police, the young woman and her parents.”
Collins’ first contact with Falloon about the issues was Monday.
“He advised me that he had significant mental health issues… and that has been an issue for some time.”
That was not known to Collins earlier, she said.
“I have no questions in my mind, no doubt that he did send that message. Any suggestion that he didn’t is simply wrong.”
He only knew the young woman in a professional sense, Collins said.
“It was clear to me yesterday that he was admitting what had been alleged.”
She also said it had been brought to her attention by media that there were other indiscretions by Falloon.
It is clear that Collins is not happy with him.
UPDATE: RNZ report that Falloon has just resigned from Parliament, effectively immediately.