I have a boat load of caveats. This is a nuanced opinion, and if I share it in a blunt way, I will do more harm than good.
(Deep breath)
The crimes done here are reprehensible. Even if they are judged to be technically legal, the emotional damage has already been done. For the life of me I can’t speak to monetary damages, since money rarely makes up for trauma. It can, however it generally doesn’t.
Persuing justice helps many people with closure, and moving through the stages of grief. It is important, but yet again doesn’t change the fact they were assaulted. Nothing changes that. It will be with them for the rest of their lives.
Given that restitution is being sought, and justice is being sought, I emphatically hope the women in this story seek talk therapy. It doesn’t take away the pain, nothing will. However the coping mechanisms can be a powerful tool for moving forward.
It is fucked up. Vengeance and retribution has its place. Justice has its place. Healing has its place. More than anything I hope the scales tip slightly in the direction of healing.
(As an aside, I constantly ask myself, why do we do this to each other? I have no answers.)
