WARNING: SEXUAL VIOLENCE MENTION
Two years ago yesterday, it happened. I was raped in my own home. It destroyed me as a person. I felt a level of physical and emotional pain that I haven't felt in a very long time. It hasn't been easy. In November 2024, I watched a serial rapist become President, and now the ensuing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein that is being silenced. I watched Andrew Cuomo, a man accused of sexually harassing 13 women, and that's just those who came forward, run for NYC mayor, and although he didn't win, he achieved second place. I watched Diddy, despite over 30 witnesses, beat nearly every charge. I watched Harvey Weinstein's verdict be reversed, and a new trial ordered, because both the DA and judge admittedly made procedural errors so significant that it genuinely warranted a new trial as a matter of law. Simply put, this system fails survivors at every possible turn.
But I am happy to say after 2 years, I am finally starting to find peace again. My attacker controlled my body, but I refuse to let him control or break my spirit. And I found this peace by advocating for people like me. Unfortunately, my work isn't done. The California Victims Fund initially paid out some of what I am owed, but the overwhelming majority of my benefits have been withheld in retaliation. Doesn't matter that I provided terrible state audits, federal audits, citation of legal violations (procedural due process violations, substantive due process violations, ADA violations), I even have credible accusations of obstruction of justice by the California Victims Funds. Simply put, this is a crooked government agency and Rick Chavez Zbur, Ben Allen, and Gavin Newsom refuse to investigate or hold them accountable. The victims fund and other numerous government agencies are intentionally withholding or delaying my public records requests. It'll be up to us to hold the California Victims Fund accountable and stand up for victims.
What can you do? First, keep calling your state & federal representatives alike, executive and legislative. Because the California Victims Fund receives federal funding under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), the federal government can still investigate. Second, keep sharing this petition everywhere you can and posting everything you can on social media. Third, if you are in a place to do, please consider donating to my GoFundMe. I am now a broke college student going for his next masters of science instead of working because of my attacker, the California Victims Fund. I am going to keep "fighting the good fight" against a government agency victimizing thousands, but I can't do it alone. I need your help to stop these people from hurting others.
Help Tom Rebuild After Assault & Job Loss: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/help-tom-rebuild-after-assault-and-job-loss
"Either we break the pattern or the pattern breaks us." -- It Ends with Us
Lastly, to any other survivors out there -- it's never your fault, it's never OK, and getting help and helping others, like I'm trying to do now, is the bravest thing you can ever do.