March 7, 2018

Is this enough to wreck the political career of Mark Cuban?

"In 2011, Portland Police Investigated a Sexual Assault Complaint Against Billionaire Mark Cuban. He Wasn’t Charged. Here’s What Happened/WW has obtained the transcript of a Portland Police detective's interview with Cuban. 'Oh my Lord,' Cuban said. “'Oh my f***ing Lord.'"

Willamette Week reports.
The woman told police she encountered Cuban in late April at the Barrel Room, at 105 NW 3rd Ave., and asked him to pose with her for a photograph. While they smiled for the camera, she claimed, he thrust his hand down the back of her jeans and penetrated her vagina with his finger.... "I filed the report because what he did was wrong," [says the unnamed woman]. "I stand behind that report 1,000 percent."...

Cuban responded to [questions from Portland Police Detective Brendan McGuire] with a firm denial that mixed shock, disbelief and self-pity....

A week after the interview, two urologists on the faculty of the George Washington University Medical School in Washington, D.C., provided [Cuban's attorney, Stephen Houze] a written opinion that Cuban could not physically have committed the crime of which he was accused.

"[Cuban] is a large male with large hands, making penetration without lubrication of the woman in the standing position virtually impossible," the doctors wrote.
Much more at the link including extended transcripts of Cuban talking to the McGuire.

101 comments:

mockturtle said...

Maybe her jeans were of the 'relaxed fit' variety, LOL! Nobody's hand--even mine-- would get down the back of my jeans. How ridiculous!

Nonapod said...

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

I'm no fan of Mark Cuban, but unless a bunch of other women come forward with similar tales I don't see this mattering much.

mockturtle said...

It looks like a certain segment of women have finally discovered real empowerment. Any woman has the power to accuse any man of anything. :-(

Beach Brutus said...

No Mark Cuban fan, but this sounds contrived. How loose would those jeans have to be? Does any woman wear jeans so loose as to allow a man's hand and part of his arm to fit like that? And the complexity and surprise of the whole enterprise would have to have been witnessed by at least the photographer never mind the other patrons present. Moral of story is if you are a billionaire - live by the Pence Rule.

Ralph L said...

He stubbed her camel-toe?

Is that vulgar enough?

'TreHammer said...

The law of unintended consequences strikes again.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

First newsy version of man-hand-splaining I've seen. Unless she was wearing very loose jeans this episode seems hard to fathom. He's such an obnoxious guy that I can believe he would do such a thing but did he?

Hard to say. To answer Althouse, no, this won't kill his career or political ambitions unless he chooses to run as a Republican.

MadisonMan said...

I stand behind that report 1000%

This is a meaningless statement. Especially when the report is laughable on its face.

Maybe if she were wearing sweatpants this would be plausible.

Achilles said...

The gold digger brigade the democrats recruited Fail to realize they are tools meant to get democrats more power.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Truth can be stranger than fiction. Why would the woman make up something that sounds so farfetched? Cuban's gyno doc's defense also sounds far fetched so...

Fernandinande said...

"Is this enough to wreck the political career of Mark Cuban?"

Boy, I sure hope so!

These rich boys-club boys think they can get away with anything and need to be taken down a peg - I'm drooling with vengeful excitement!

MayBee said...

The defense is preposterous.

That doesn't mean I believe her story. I bet every famous man has at least one cray woman accusing him of something.

Wince said...

They should name that move the "Cuban cigar".

Politically in honor of Bill Clinton.

Sally327 said...

I wonder if his finger is as big as a cigar.

I have no idea if this story is true or not, of course --although I am amused at the medical opinion, which I think proves mostly that it is very good to have lots of money, thus allowing one to obtain helpful professional advice in a myriad of situations.

rhhardin said...

My father tells of the baseball announcer, during the national anthem, saying "Who goosed the soprano."

My father was a classical music fan, finding kinship with a baseball announcer.

LYNNDH said...

There will be more, the question is are they true. Wait, we have to assume all women's complaints as true. I Cuban's case I guess size does matter.

rhhardin said...

He denies the hole thing.

Achilles said...

What will sink Cuban’s political career is he lacks the talent Trump has.

rhhardin said...

It's another good case for settle it between you two.

rhhardin said...

Well I can tell you right now your stance is all wrong.

rhhardin said...

We report you deride.

Sebastian said...

"While they smiled for the camera" The Pence Rule is not enough.

"Cuban responded to [questions from Portland Police Detective Brendan McGuire] with a firm denial" He talked to police without his lawyer?

buwaya said...

The properly paranoid first suspicion is that some potential Democratic rival wants to eliminate Cuban from consideration early. Cuban has plausibly moderate credentials and he can self-finance to a considerable degree. Add to that some (erroneous) hispanic resonance to his name, some name recognition, and a plausible appearance and presentation.

This sort of accusation is easy to buy, and most of the presidentiables have access to deep pockets and dirty tricks.

Unknown said...

i assumed the doctor's opinion was satire. but assuming it was real, doctors saying he could not finger penetrate the vagina without lube is probably legit, but a sneak way of avoiding the reality his finger may have touched her clitoris, etc. so doctor uses biology and anatomy to avoid the assault based on word vagina

I read this as admission that cuban finger-raped her in some way

gspencer said...

Cuban's a Democrat, a lefty in general. No adverse consequences.

Professional lady said...

Don't know if it's true or not, but would have to be very loose jeans was my reaction too. Either that, or the motion of the arm down the jeans would have to be forceful enough to pull the jeans down quite a bit(unless the jeans sat VERY low on the hips). Seems like the photographer would have seen that something was going on.

Unknown said...

As to the physical possibility of the woman's claim--
I have known a several women who had the larger tush-small waist body type.
Invariably, these girls had to buy jeans that fit their ass but which then made them fit loose around the waist. From personal experience, I can tell you what this woman describes is indeed easily done. Especially so if the woman is several inches shorter than the guy.

AlbertAnonymous said...

Isn’t there a joke in there about Jim Neighbors wanting to stick his finger in a gals belly button...?

Cuban is a self entitled ass, so I shed no tears for him in this. The Doctor’s note saying it’s not possible is laughable as the allegation. Why couldn’t she just have said that he slid his hand down her pants and copped a feel of her ass? And why not “he stuck his finger in my ass”? Anatomically it would have been easier to reach. No, there is a “grab em by the pussy” image that they’re going for.

But women deserve to be believed, and so if anyone disputes or doubts any aspect of this story well then you’re just DENIERS !!!!!

Ken B said...

Must be dammed loose fitting jeans. Think it out. It could not be done surreptitiously if at all with normal fitting pants I think.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Who are these "two urologists on the faculty of the George Washington University Medical School in Washington, D.C." They look really stupid right now:

"[Cuban] is a large male with large hands, making penetration without lubrication of the woman in the standing position virtually impossible."

At best this depends on whether you are playing by basketball or football rules. In basketball, if you circle the rim but don't go in, no goal. But in football, if you break the plane of the goal line, touchdown.

My guess is that he did try to goose her (whether she got a GHWB or the alleged Cuban, we would need the pictures):

'In one of his reports, Detective McGuire, a 22-year bureau veteran, described two of the photos as "significant."

"In both images, Cuban's right shoulder is lowered and he appears to be stretching to reach his arm down," McGuire's report says. "In one of the pictures, his arm can be seen behind [the alleged victim] and it appears Cuban is reaching down toward her buttocks."

McGuire also noted the alleged victim's expression: "Her teeth are clenched, eyes wider than the other pictures and brow raised showing a look of surprise and strain."'

Robert Cook said...

"What will sink Cuban’s political career is he lacks the talent Trump has."

What "talent" is that?

langford peel said...

Cuban appeared on the HBO series "Entourage" which celebrated and popularized the Harvey Weinstein lifestyle. They even had a figure based on Weinstein as a prominent part of the plot. So it is easy to believe that Cuban was caught up in these attitudes and put his finger on it.

Plus he was a real sanctimonious shit when the Access Hollywood tape came out. He attacked the God Emperor as not being fit to be President because of his attitude toward woman and demanded he quit the race. Once again someone who arracked the God zemperor is laid low.

Will they ever learn?

Henry said...

What political career?

langford peel said...

Wait I combined attacked with barrack and came up with "arracked."

Definition:

1. When someone lies and breaks the law and it's covered up by the media in the style of Barrack Hussien Obama

2. When an actress vigerously strives for a role by using her large rack as a weapon. Also known as the Salma Hayak maneuver.

Henry said...

Maybe she had her jeans on backwards?

Did the detectives see if Cuban has shoe-horn wrists?

Probably, there is a physiological possibility of this happening, but it sure seems wildly improbable.

chuck said...

> Maybe she had her jeans on backwards?

I'd think they'd need to be down around her ankles.

the 4chan Guy who reads Althouse said...

""[Cuban] is a large male with large hands, making penetration without lubrication of the woman in the standing position virtually impossible," the doctors wrote."

If the finger doesn't fit, you must acquit.

Try demonstrating THAT in a courtroom.

The Germans have a word for this.

Jupiter said...

Let's set aside the he-said/she-said, and consider the question of whether it *should* end his political potential. Lots of men have physically attacked other men at some point in their lives, sometimes causing serious injury. I think we can assume that the men attacked did not enjoy the experience, and often arrests will have been made and charges . Should this render them unelectable? If so, why? If not, how's that so different from sticking a finger up some woman's twat when you're both hammered at a bar at 2:00 AM? Aside from the lack of injury?

Henry said...

On the other hand, pushing back on Cuban's paid urologists, I'm not sure how lack of lubrication disproves assault.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

Ridiculous. Just because it's in the realm of possibility doesn't mean it's at all likely.

And stop making me defend Democrats.

Comanche Voter said...

I'll go with Chuck on this. Shove his hand down the front of her jeans--maybe. Shove his hand down the back of her jeans--and those ladies do wear those jeans skin tight, they'd have to be down around her knees for that to have happened.

That said, it's more than theoretically possible that Cuban did an "enhanced Al Franken" grope; ol Al kept his hands outside the lady's jeans when he grabbed her backside. Cuban just got a little closer.

In the Cuban encounter, apparently all parties were more than a bit inebriated, and your mileage and memories may vary in that situation.

Henry said...

Also in favor of the woman -- she reported it immediately. To the police.

Darkisland said...

Not only would the jeans have to be VERY loose, the woman would have to be standing with her legs spread pretty wide apart.

If he had stuck his finger up her ass, that might be possible assuming loose jeans. But wouldnt the normal reaction be to clench one's but cheeks in this case? So even that doesn't seem possible.

Not just no, but Hell No. No way can I believe this.

OTOH, as President Trump told us and as we know from millions of other women/groupies "When you're a celebrity women let you grab them by the pussy" Operative word there is "let".

Perhaps she invited Cuban to put his hand in her pants then regretted it? Even that seems extremely unlikely.

John Henry

Dude1394 said...

No but it does knock down the metoo witch hunts a peg or two.

Henry said...

Shouldn't assume tight jeans. Maybe the complainant was wearing loose low-rise jeans.

And big hands means long fingers.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

If he runs for President, I don't see it hurting him.

In fact, I'm guessing we will never see another male Presidential candidate that isn't accused of some sort of sexual assault.

Michael K said...

Wrong hole. Can she tell the difference?

Birkel said...

The steps:
1) Into jeans,
2) Around buttocks
a) if very thin, then the idea of incredibly loose fitting jeans seems preposterous
b) if not very thin, then the buttocks would present some obstacle
3) between legs, underneath the pelvis
4) extending a finger (attached to a hand, one imagines) into intimate places
5) without the woman pulling back, probably violently
6) without the man lowering his shoulder to allow the arm more freedom that would be detected in a photo

This is the opposite of what happened in the Taylor Swift example. In that example, Swift sued a DJ for reaching under Swift's skirt. The movement of the skirt was revealed in photos. And Swift immediately reacted.

#BelieveAllWomen #CrystalMangum

buwaya said...

"What talent is that?"

That which both Trump and Hilary share, what in Spanish would be called a "cara dura" - a hard face.
An I do not give a f*** attitude to criticism, imperturbable shamelessness.

narayanan said...

doesn't ebriation lead to lubrication?

narayanan said...

and what about thigh gap? eh??

Martin said...

She must have been wearing the loosest jeans in the world, and have the slowest reflexes, for him to do what she says. I don't believe it.

I have no particular feelings about Cuban one way or the other.

Virgil Hilts said...

This is a tough one. If MC is drunk, might he do this and not remember? Certainly possible. And I don't think its that difficult to physically do it (there are going to certainly be a few scientific attempted reenactments between guys and their wives in Texas tonight).
But, was she drunk? Her boyfriend was drunk. If she was drunk then I can see her shocked and potentially exaggerating a non-penetrative hand down the back of her pants and sincerely believing that penetration happened. My bet is that this is what happened. That neither one was in their own mind lying.

Mr. D said...

Remember the nights i cried
You were doing that old cuban slide
All night I tried and tried
I could not master the cuban side

R'member the night I started to weep?
Under lights you did the 'creep'
That night I could not sleep
Oh lord how goes the creep?


Chrissie Hynde called it in 1980.

Jupiter said...

Hmmmm. Another article from Willamette Week (WW is the Portland "alternative" paper);

http://www.wweek.com/news/2018/02/07/a-portland-woman-comes-forward-with-her-story-of-being-attacked-by-two-prominent-men/

This one seems to have ended a political career quite abruptly.

Leland said...

I don't buy the story on either side, so I don't think this will hurt his ambitions. On the other hand, the Dallas Mavs sex scandal might.

glenn said...

The only relevant question? Is Mark a D or an R. If he’s a D, no problem. If he’s an R, toast. Burnt.

SweatBee said...

The tight jeans that are in style right now have a lot of spandex in the fabric. They're pretty stretchy. Otherwise, it would take forever to peel them on and then you'd have a hard time walking.

My point of doubt in her story, though, is how in the world he could navigate her anatomy from that position without her cooperation. Clench and dodge, woman.

mockturtle said...

IF it happened, which I doubt, did she immediately shriek and slap him? If not, why not?

Kevin said...

How can you ask that question when the Oscars MeToo Apology Tour was hosted by the former host of The Man Show which basically celebrated women bouncing up and down to show off their breasts?

Man Show - Juggy Academy

holdfast said...

Maybe they were stretchy, jeans-style leggings - i.e. "jeggings"?

Whatever the case, worming his way in there would have take some time and effort, and she would have reached.

Jupiter said...

"...the former host of The Man Show which basically celebrated women bouncing up and down to show off their breasts?"

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Darrell said...

Maybe it was just a squidgy--finger at the opening. The Windsors can be subpoenaed to testify.

Daniel Jackson said...

Let's see the photographs allegedly taken while he was bending down, reaching way down around the curvature of her ass, and sticking those long fingers (unwanted) in her crack. Are you telling me there was NO REACTION in those images of such an unwanted operation??

Utter bullshit.

Lacking a, "Hey, motherfucka, get out of my knickers," a photograph of astonishment, and some usable evidence, nada.

The DA said no; so I guess she's out there looking for a shake down since reasonable women will ask if this will tank his career. Why should it? Of course, why would a law professor waive due process?

Achilles said...

Robert Cook said...
"What will sink Cuban’s political career is he lacks the talent Trump has."

What "talent" is that?

3% growth.

First working class wage growth in decades.

Made democrats supporters of States Rights.

With 91% negative coverage by the press he has a 10% higher approval rating than Obama had with 90% slobbering positive coverage.

Do I need to detail how he defeated 18 long time entrenched politicians and took out the entire MSM establishment to do it?

At Trumps funeral the media will express shock and horror that the solid majority of Americans think Trump was a great president.

Yancey Ward said...

Buwaya wrote:

"The properly paranoid first suspicion is that some potential Democratic rival wants to eliminate Cuban from consideration early."

I don't think it paranoid- I think it logical.

Jupiter said...

Blogger Daniel Jackson said...
"Let's see the photographs allegedly taken while he was bending down, reaching way down around the curvature of her ass, and sticking those long fingers (unwanted) in her crack. Are you telling me there was NO REACTION in those images of such an unwanted operation??"

Well, actually, if you read the article, you will see that there are pictures, two of them show Cuban with a lowered shoulder, his hands weren't visible, and she is visibly reacting to something. But it sounds like the pictures are very poor quality, and the police won't release them.

My guess? he goosed her outside her pants, and she somehow mistook it for inside. Does that make it better? Or is goosing strangers beyond the pale?

Rick said...

I am amused at the medical opinion, which I think proves mostly that it is very good to have lots of money, thus allowing one to obtain helpful professional advice in a myriad of situations.

Exactly.

I can also see the jeans question, my mind can't fathom this. I can see any explanation she (or police) offer fitting into the "I take a wide stance" joke-fodder.

Separately: it's so hard to believe anyone would do this or would make it up. If it's true WTF is wrong with people? If it's not true WTF is wrong with people?

T J Sawyer said...

There are too many "open" questions here. Skeptics should google Thigh Gap and review the images. Then we have the usual vulva/vagina issue - the Vagina Monologues has knocked all female genitalia discussion into a cocked hat. Why no "body parts" tag?

exhelodrvr1 said...

He might have been wearing a prosthetic digit.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Mulva?

Matt Sablan said...

I don't see it hurting him; Dems are not going to let this stand in the away against Trump.

Darkisland said...

Now that I think of it, I remember some discussion a month or 2 back on the No Agenda Show www.noagenda.com

Da boyz talked about Cuban and how he apparently has something to fear from the metoo movement. They didn't seem to know what it was, just that there was something. Cuban apparently has a bit of a rep for slightly (or maybe very) skeezy behavior

I'll be interested to hear their take on the show tomorrow.

This reacharound still seems like nonsense to me.

John Henry

dreams said...

I don't believe her. And I'm not a Mark Cuban fan.

Bob Boyd said...

'Oh my Lord,' Cuban said. ' Was that her vagina? Oh my f***ing Lord. What was that doing there?'

the 4chan Guy who reads Althouse said...

He mistook her for a bowling ball.

She was ashamed to mention where the other fingers went.

Let's just say his thumb was a gutter-ball.

The Germans have a word for this.

Bob Boyd said...

"Would mind tying my shoe? I have a lubricant on my hand."

Ron Winkleheimer said...

This happened in a public place and nobody noticed? Not likely. Sounds like she was hoping for a payday. Doesn't mean he isn't screwed as far as politics though. Just cause it isn't plausible doesn't mean people won't believe it.

traditionalguy said...

Mark Cuban has no political career. But this could hurt him in movie producing.

exhelodrvr1 said...

From the back does she look just like his wife?

one of the bobs said...

Why would the fuzz wait over a month to, um, call him?

Ron Winkleheimer said...

Moral of story is if you are a billionaire - live by the Pence Rule.

But he wasn't along with her. Moral of the story, if you are a billionaire people are going to try to extort money from you.

Leland said...

Well, actually, if you read the article, you will see that there are pictures,

Read the article, twice now. I saw file photos of Cuban. I also saw file photos of people standing around night clubs, with close ups showing half a torso or far away such that you couldn't recognize anyone. So back to what Daniel Jackson was saying...

tim in vermont said...

Rules are that all charges against Democrats are false, so he is innocent. He’s not just ‘not guilty,’ he’s innocent.

HoodlumDoodlum said...

Maybe they DON'T let you get away with it, not anymore--not even when you're a celebrity.
That'd be good, if true!

You folks talking about jean tightness should know that lots of denim pants have a high percentage of spandex-type fabric in them now, so even though they're probably tight they may still have a very high degree of stretch capability. Seems like most jeans are pseudo-jeggings now, even including men's! (I found that out after ordering 2 pairs of Levis 559s recently--I inadvertently got one w/stretch fabric and one w/o. Big difference! They don't even really feel like jeans--too soft.)

Etienne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Darkisland said...

Reading the transcript two things jump out at me:

1) Why would he talk to the police about such a matter without a lawyer?

2) Was the call pre-arranged? I get the feeling not. My impression is that he just picked up the phone and it was the police on the other end. How did he know who it was?

John Henry

Valentine Smith said...

Cuban has very small hands and very thin wrists. And he was totally loaded. And I'm betting she was too.

During a brawl, I once lifted a man off his feet by his throat with one hand and an ally punched him out of my grasp.

Strange, wondrous and terrible things happen in saloons.

Jim at said...

Mark Cuban is a Truther nutjob.

That alone should be enough to shun him from polite company, let alone a political career.

Birkel said...

As a man with a 17 inch long pointer finger, I completely believe this story.

-- said no man, ever

Jupiter said...

Leland said...

"Read the article, twice now..."

Then you probably have this passage committed to memory;

"In one of his reports, Detective McGuire, a 22-year bureau veteran, described two of the photos as "significant."

"In both images, Cuban's right shoulder is lowered and he appears to be stretching to reach his arm down," McGuire's report says. "In one of the pictures, his arm can be seen behind [the alleged victim] and it appears Cuban is reaching down toward her buttocks."

McGuire also noted the alleged victim's expression: "Her teeth are clenched, eyes wider than the other pictures and brow raised showing a look of surprise and strain."

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

'"I stand behind that report 1,000 percent."...'

Such a statement signals that the speaker cannot or does not care to clearly and logically communicate their belief in formal English. Credibility dies, right there.



walter said...

It's pretty shitty to release transcripts of presumed confidential conversation referencing pics that are being withheld.

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

Perhaps the woman cannot or does not care to differentiate between buttocks, vulva, and vagina. If so, another clear signal of lax thinking, ignorance, or intent to deceive.

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

Disclaimer: I have no idea who Mark Cuban is, or what he is famous for.

walter said...

Well..in the article(ahem), it says
"In May 2011, a woman contacted the Portland Police Bureau to make an allegation against Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team and one of the most visible figures in entertainment and sports."

He made his real wealth through the sale of an early web video venture.

JaimeRoberto said...

I didn't see any pictures of the alleged assault in the article, but I do appreciate the inclusion of a picture of a pizza place called Dirty Pie, which has an awning with an illustration of a slice up pizza going up between a woman's legs. Very classy. When you are a famous pizza place, women just let you do that.

Clayton Hennesey said...

Publisher Wick Allison's D Magazine weighs in:

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2018/03/mark-cuban-sexual-misconduct-allegations/


"Regardless, the right question isn’t whether Cuban is screwed. The question is whether he should be."

mockturtle said...

The Germans...He mistook her for a bowling ball.

She was ashamed to mention where the other fingers went.

Let's just say his thumb was a gutter-ball.

The Germans have a word for this.


Glad I didn't have coffee in my mouth when I read this! ;-D

walter said...

Jaime,
You should hear the music they use in their commercials:

Here's your Dirty Pie
Generous toppings between those thighs
Tastes so good make a grown man cry
Hot..Dirty Pie

Boxty said...

Maybe she meant her vulva? That's easily doable from an upright position. And some jeans made with a cotton and lycra blend are as stretchy as yoga pants.