‘Nude Photos’ Scandal Prompts ‘Scathing’ Probe
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano publicly denied allegations of sending nude photos to a sheriff's deputy, claiming the rumors were a 'political hit job' designed to damage her reputation and distract from her administration's progress.
- ❖Giordano's formal letter to Sheriff Mike Lewis requested an investigation into a deputy allegedly sharing 'pornographic images' of her, asserting Lewis had acknowledged possessing such an image and discussed it without her consent.
- ❖Sheriff Lewis's response was highly critical, suggesting Giordano's 'nude selfies' were 'self-generated, self-created, and ultimately self-distributed,' and warned that an investigation would involve a forensic search of her personal and government phones.
- ❖Legal expert Daniel Sakowitz stated that Sheriff Lewis's interpretation of Maryland's revenge porn law was incorrect; the law does not require an intimate relationship between parties, nor does voluntarily taking or sending photos negate a victim's claim if images are distributed without consent with intent to harm.
- ❖The expert characterized Lewis's letter as a form of intimidation, potentially deterring Giordano from pursuing a criminal complaint, and highlighted that sharing intimate images without consent is a form of sexual abuse that should be handled by specially trained officers.
- ❖The public release of the letters, initially withheld, was justified by 'public interest' after the Sheriff's office confirmed no open investigation, further fueling the political nature of the dispute, especially with both officials up for re-election.
Insights
1County Executive Denies Allegations as Political Attack
Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano held a press conference to vehemently deny allegations of sending nude photos to a sheriff's deputy. She characterized these persistent rumors as 'fake news' and a 'deliberate attack' on her character, integrity, and reputation, timed to damage her politically, especially as the only Republican female county executive in Maryland.
Giordano stated, 'These allegations are completely false. They are not based on facts. They are not supported by evidence. They are nothing more than a deliberate attack on my character, my integrity, and my reputation.' She also noted, 'This is a desperate attempt to defame me... and ultimately, it is a desperate attempt to distract from the tremendous progress that this county has made.'
2Conflicting Accounts Emerge from Official Correspondence
Despite Giordano's public denials, letters exchanged between her and Sheriff Mike Lewis, later released to the media, revealed a direct conflict. Giordano's letter formally requested an investigation into a deputy sharing her 'pornographic images' and accused Lewis of discussing the images without her consent. Lewis's 'scathing' reply suggested the images were 'self-generated, self-created, and ultimately self-distributed' selfies, and warned that an investigation would involve a forensic examination of Giordano's phones.
Giordano's letter to Lewis (September 12, 2024) requested 'an investigation into the alleged sharing of pornographic images of me by one of your deputies.' Lewis's response (October 4, 2024) stated, 'Perhaps you should have thought about that before you sent those selfies from your phone.' He also offered to request an investigation but warned of a 'search and seizure warrant of your cell phone, personal and government.'
3Sheriff's Legal Interpretation Challenged by Expert
Sheriff Lewis's letter implied that Giordano's claims might be invalid because she allegedly created and distributed the images herself, and he had previously suggested Maryland's revenge porn law required an intimate relationship. However, victim's rights attorney Daniel Sakowitz clarified that Maryland law does not require an intimate relationship, nor does voluntarily taking or sending intimate photos negate a claim if they are distributed without consent with intent to harm.
Giordano's letter quoted Lewis as saying 'revenge porn only applies in the context of an intimate relationship.' Sakowitz stated, 'There is nothing in this statute that says that the person who received the images had to be the intended recipient... It doesn't matter why you took the images. It doesn't matter who you shared them with, candidly.' He added, 'The mere fact that share your intimate image with an individual does not mean that you consent them for it to be shared with the entire world.'
4Law Enforcement Response Criticized as Intimidating
The legal expert heavily criticized Sheriff Lewis's letter, viewing it as an intimidating tactic rather than a proper response to a potential victim of non-consensual image sharing. Sakowitz argued that Lewis's warning about phone seizures and the implication that reporting would 'ruin your life' was inappropriate for a law enforcement official, especially given that such cases are considered sexual abuse and should be handled by trained specialists.
Sakowitz called Lewis's letter 'mind-blowing' and 'absurd,' stating, 'This is a form of intimidation. It's not accurate... This is a form of sexual abuse. And now you have a sheriff who is telling somebody that it's okay, you can make the report if you want, but it's going to ruin your life. That is essentially what he's telling this individual.'
Lessons
- Public officials should be acutely aware of the legal implications of 'revenge porn' laws and ensure their statements and actions align with current statutes, especially when handling sensitive allegations.
- Citizens and victims of non-consensual image sharing should understand their rights under state and federal laws (like Maryland's statute and the federal Take Down Act), which protect against unauthorized distribution regardless of how images were created or initial consent to a specific recipient.
- Law enforcement agencies must train officers, particularly those in leadership, on the proper, victim-centered approach to allegations of non-consensual image sharing, recognizing it as a form of sexual abuse and avoiding language that could intimidate or deter victims from reporting.
Quotes
"As the county executive of Wicomico County, I have never sent inappropriate photographs to a deputy, to county to a county employee, or to anyone else. I never have. I never would. Period."
"The law does not require an intimate relationship between the individuals for the prohibition against distributing explicit images to apply."
"Perhaps you should have thought about that before you sent those selfies from your phone."
"As a key witness to the nude selfies, I stand fully prepared to testify as to how a deputy requested permission to enter my office and shut my door. While standing next to my desk, the deputy proceeded to scroll through multiple nude selfies of you clearly taken by you now being shockingly displayed on my deputy's cell phone."
"I mean, I read this letter from the sheriff and it is absolutely mind-blowing that he would put something like this in writing on official letterhead. Besides the fact of how incorrect he was under the criminal law, the concept that he would then go ahead and blame someone that claims that they're a victim of non-consensual pornography is absurd and then using official letterhead to do so."
"The mere fact that share your intimate image with an individual does not mean that you consent them for it to be shared with the entire world."
"This is a form of intimidation. It's not accurate. It's not actually a true statement necessarily what he's saying, nor is it somebody that's ever trained to represent victims or be a law enforcement of victims of sexual assault should ever be saying to someone that is filing a report and claiming that they're a victim."
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