A Philadelphia attorney claims that attempted rape allegations against a former Temple University frat president were made up by a woman who just wants to be part of the #MeToo movement.
Perry de Marco — who is representing Ari Goldstein, a 21-year-old former president of Temple’s suspended Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity – told reporters outside Philadelphia’s Criminal Justice Center on Thursday that he has a “world of information” to prove his client’s innocence and discredit the claims of his accuser, Philly.com reports.
“Make a scene, make a point for #MeToo,” de Marco said of her motives. “[Those are] her motives, and I’ll prove that. I’ll prove that beyond all doubt.”
De Marco, who said the case will be a “hell of a trial,” vowed to “stand on my head” in the middle of a Center City street if he didn’t successfully discredit the alleged victim’s claims.
The woman, a student at Temple University, is accusing Goldstein of holding her down on a couch during a party on Feb. 25 at the North Broad Street frat house and kissing her without her consent. Goldstein also pushed her to perform oral sex on him, the woman alleges.
“I was thrashing,” she testified at Thursday’s preliminary hearing. “I kept saying no and he kept shushing me.”
During the party, the woman said she went to Goldstein’s room after being invited there to smoke marijuana. Once inside, however, she testified she felt “helpless” as Goldstein forcefully held her down and tried to force himself on her.
The incident lasted about 30 minutes, as Goldstein’s aggression was “stop-and-go,” and the woman testified that she feared any overt attempt to leave might escalate the situation further. She ultimately pushed Goldstein away and fled before reporting the incident to Temple police about two months later, she testified.
A judge ordered Goldstein held for trial on charges of attempted rape, indecent assault and simple assault following the woman’s testimony. A count of attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse was dismissed due to a lack of evidence, Philly.com reported.
University officials later suspended the fraternity after receiving “credible reports” of sexual assault, underage drinking and drugging at the fraternity.
Goldstein, of Wrightstown, did not address a throng of reporters who surrounded him following Thursday’s hearing. He remains free on bail and is due back in court on Aug. 2.