CNN Reporter Reads Full Statement by Stanford Rape Victim

CNN takes a lot of abuse for the way it handles its job as a news organization.

That"s what happens when you use holograms to conduct interviews and rely on Twitter as a source of information.

But anchor Ashleigh Banfield made headlines for all the right reasons on Monday night for the way in which she used her cable news platform.

In a touching stand against silencing rape victims, Banfield dedicated over 20 minutes of airtime to reading nearly the full statement from the victim of a 2015 sexual assault at Stanford University.

The case has gone viral because Brock Turner, whose mug shot is featured above, was convicted of sexual assault last week.

However, he only received a sentencing of six months in county prison, despite the judge having the option to sentence him to a maximum of 14 years behind state bars for his crime.

In response, the 23-year old victim in the case read an emotional letter out loud in court, addressing her assailant in it and outlining the ways in which his act has affected her life.

Banfield spent the first half of her program, “Legal View,” reading the victim’s 7,000-plus-word statement, only leaving out parts deemed too graphic for television.

“You don’t know me, but you’ve been inside me, and that’s why we’re here today,” Banfield read to open the message, walking listeners through the victim’s difficult experience,

The incident took place January 2015 after the victim attended a party with her sister and then woke up covered in dried blood, pine needles and bandages.

She later discovered that Turner had sexually assaulted her behind a dumpster while she was unconscious.

Banfield has received an outpouring of praise for this act.

Take the time to listen to the letter below:

Father of Stanford Rapist Minimizes Son"s Actions: Read His Statement

On June 2, Brock Turner – a swimmer from Stanford University – was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman near a dumpster.

His sentence of just six months in jail, followed by three months of probation, was seen as a slap on the wrist to many. It has stirred up an Internet storm.

The judge ruled that a longer sentence would have done the 20-year old more harm than necessary, despite actions most believe to have been unconscionable. 

There has been outrage on social media about the whole thing and now Turner’s father, Dan, has only added fuel to the fire. A lot of fuel to the fire. 

In a statement, he compared his son’s assault on the woman to “20 minutes of action” for which his child should not be punished with any jail time.

Seriously. 

This is a look at the statement in full:

This case has gone viral because the brave victim at the center of it stood in front of the judge last week and read a moving letter, directing her anger, pain, bitterness and shock to Turner and everyone in court.

In instances like this, you expect the parents to be releasing an apology for bringing the offender into this world… but it appears Brock’s father is just as deluded as him.

“His life will never be the one that he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve,” Turner wrote.

“That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20-plus years of life.”

The whole thing is pretty disgusting. 

He then went on to speak about how his son has lost his appetite nowadays. He also blamed the incident on “binge drinking” and “promiscuity.”

It’s truly disgusting all around.

As a quick refresher:

On January 18, 2015, two students found Brock on top of the unconscious woman. They even tackled him when he tried to flee.

Evidence pointed to Turner shoving his fingers inside the woman, along with pine needles and other objects.

His attorney tried to argue in court that the sex was consensual and that Turner asked for permission every step of the way.

But a jury saw right through this defense. They found him guilty on multiple counts of rape.

Yes, rape. Someone might want to explain what that term means to Mr. Turner.

View Slideshow: 13 Celebrities Who Have Been Sexually Assaulted

USC Football -- Altercation In Locker Room ... After Loss to Stanford

Z STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Trouble in Troy … with 2 USC football players BLOWING UP on each other after the Stanford game — with multiple coaches and players rushing in to break up the altercation … TMZ Sports has learned.

Multiple sources tell us… the incident went down as the team was in the tunnel at the Coliseum heading to the locker room after losing to Stanford 41-31 on Saturday night. 

We’re told there was yelling and pushing between the two players — and they each had to be physically restrained.  

After the spat, we’re told Coach Steve Sarkisian scolded the players involved and other team members — saying, “We just lost the game and you two are fighting each other?!”

Obviously, tensions were running high — since the loss dropped USC from #6 to #19 … but it’s unclear if the players will face any sort of disciplinary action for the dust up.  

We called SC for comment — so far, no word back. 

See also

• USC"s Steve Sarkisian — I"m Getting Treatment … But I"m No Alcoholic


• USC"s Steve Sarkisian — Powerful Alums & Boosters Pissed … Calls to Fire Coach


• Ex-USC Star Keith Rivers — It"s All Good Snoop Dogg … Trojans Will Take You Back