Scott Brown Recalls Childhood Sexual Abuse In 60 Minutes Interview (VIDEO)

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) reveals that he was sexually abused as a child multiple times in an interview scheduled to air on CBS' "60 Minutes" on Sunday evening.

In discussing the matter with Lesley Stahl, Brown explains that he hadn't even told his mother about what happened. The Republican senator recalls suffering sexual abuse on several occasions when he was young by a camp counselor and also living with an abusive stepfather.

"That's what happens when you're a victim," explains Brown of his reluctance to tell his mother what occurred. "You're embarrassed. You're hurt."

Speaking directly to what happened with the camp counselor, Brown says that "nothing was ever fully consummated," but that he had been forced to engage in unwanted sexual contact. Looking back, he explains, "It was certainly, back then, very traumatic."

"As predators do... He said 'If you tell anybody...I'll kill you. I will make sure that nobody believes you," recalls Brown of being threatened by the counselor.

The interview with Brown comes just before the release of memoir Against All Odds. The Senator details the traumatic experiences he endured in the book.

WATCH:

Comments

[Excalibre]

10:32 AM on 04/05/2011

Hey commenters, so, it's absolutely disgusting to immediately leap to claiming someone who makes allegations of sexual assault is lying.

[lightbulb10]

05:29 AM on 02/23/2011

That must have felt so degrading :(

[MakersOfMemories]

03:58 PM on 02/22/2011

Scott Brown was also beaten by his stepfather growing up according to this book. I read a statistic from http://www.MakersofMemories.org that said that, "63% of all boys, age 11-20, who commit murder kill the man who was abusing their mother". Domestic Violence is a serious issue and impacts many more than people realize, including Scott Brown.

[lightbulb10]

05:31 AM on 02/23/2011

I believe that. Wow - do you know what the penalties are to these boys that kill their mother's abuser? If they are under 18, in most states, I imagine it is different than after 18, but sometimes you do not know. And I sometimes now question whether some of these states would recognize the role of defense????

[Cawgrrl]

03:35 PM on 02/22/2011

Sen. Brown does not need to identify his attacker and press charges. His description of him is adequate for people who were at camp with Brown to be able to identify this miscreant and possibly have stories of their own. My gut response to this revelation was that Brown probably knows where this guy is, and he realized that by describing the locale, the time period and the events, that someone else will come forward and finger the guy. Very clever way to get your attacker dealt with without ever mentioning his name. Good for him, finding the perfect way to get revenge. I don't like him and didn't vote for him, but if this really happened, I salute him. Caveat: I do think that if no one else ever does come forward, he may just be playing a sympathy vote which is the only possible way he could beat Elizabeth Warren in a full election cycle in MA.

[lightbulb10]

05:33 AM on 02/23/2011

Saying something then is useful because it can play a role in preventing further abuses.

[Rahm11219]

12:00 PM on 02/21/2011

I find this very insulting to sexual abuse victims.

There is simply no other reason for him to discuss this now other than a sole desire for media attention. Scotty has been in politics for a long time. Why is he talking about this now as he's facing a very difficult reelection fight in '12? If this was so important to him, why didn't he discuss it last year when he first ran for senate? What about when he was running for state senate?

Shameless.

[LondonTownNY]

08:30 PM on 02/20/2011

MOLESTED IN MASSACHUSETTS: Senator Scott Brown or The Truth?: http://christopherlondonblog.com/2011/02/21/molested-in-massachusetts-senator-scott-brown-or-the-truth-sterling-reputation-of-a-family-run-christian-camp/

[darcylu]

09:01 PM on 02/20/2011

The "alleged molester" could still be abusing other children to this day.

There are innocent lives at stake, and Scott Brown is protecting the abuser.

[LondonTownNY]

01:12 AM on 02/21/2011

The Truth and the reputation of a Christian Summer Camp founded by a WW II Hero were molested in Massachusetts, not Scott Brown. Senator Brown is a repugnant opportunist seeking his Oprah moment and his veritable eliteness to be embraced by America's victim culture. I am left only to wonder when Scott Brown actually began 'turning tricks', politically speaking of course. And secondarily whether Brown and his handlers are merely laying the groundwork for further bombshell disclosures about his life experience, perhaps in his days as a male model and some rather fun times in the back rooms of Studio 54. Then after his full on Oprahfication, any other things that come to light will be viewed in the context of or as a result of a previously traumatized individual being a survivor of male sexual abuse. Truly Machiavellian indeed. Brown is simply doing his own vetting in his own time.

[Michael Ludin]

11:59 AM on 02/22/2011

I don't think I read anywhere that it is alleged. He stated it happened. There are many other plausible lies one tells through out life. That counselor Dan grabbed his penis or another boy held a knife to his neck in an attempt to force oral sex are not the things one makes up.

[steelej]

09:58 AM on 02/20/2011

He sounds as though he may be too fragile emotionally to carry on with his Senate duties. He should probably resign so he can get the help he needs so the healing will begin.

[lightbulb10]

05:35 AM on 02/23/2011

Get a life.

[steelej]

07:55 AM on 02/23/2011

Get a brain. Think of all the victims his attacker has gone on to abuse, but he won't name him? Turn one of your the lightbulbs on.

[steelej]

09:53 AM on 02/20/2011

"As predators do... He said 'If you tell anybody...I'll kill you.
Yeah right. O.K.

[Michael Ludin]

12:01 PM on 02/22/2011

that is what they do, prey on the weak. Whether it's an uncle, a coach, a counselor, priest or you.

[WhatTheHolyHeck]

11:33 PM on 02/22/2011

This is absolutely true.

[LiberalAsTheDayIsLong]

11:24 AM on 02/19/2011

While I applaud his courage to come out with his story; doesn't his refusal to identify and initiate prosecution of his molestor possibly put another child at risk? I mean this guy could be alive and molesting a child at this moment. I urge all MA resident to contact the Senator and urge and support him to identify his molestor.

[Sandy248]

09:19 PM on 02/18/2011

I can't help but wonder if this story was put out to muster sympathy from female voters and abuse victims. I know it's possible but when it comes to republicans, I don't put anything past them.

[DanSc]

05:25 PM on 02/19/2011

Always blaming the victim aren't you?

[Sandy248]

07:37 PM on 02/19/2011

No but in light of the way republicans treat the middle and working class, everything they say is suspect.

[steelej]

10:04 AM on 02/20/2011

Don't wonder, I think you can rest assured.

[rwLangford]

01:05 PM on 02/18/2011

Adults also feel the embarrassment. That's how the predators get away with it. Stop the secrets speak out and convict!

[HannaSchmitz]

10:52 AM on 02/18/2011

I don't send my kids to over night camps because of this reason. I can't trust some h or n y counselor (male or female) doing something to my kid that will hurt them for the rest of their lives.

[burp excuzme]

02:28 AM on 02/18/2011

Sometimes reading the comments here gets me extremely disillusioned with human nature. What does politics have to do with this story? Why pull it into the context of this article?

So he's a Republican. Big freaking deal. Can we as human beings, just empathize with his traumatic experience, instead of condemning him for having different political views?!

[steelej]

10:11 AM on 02/20/2011

Why does he mention it at all? He can't prove it, won't name names, and is selling a book.
If it smells like a halibut it might be a lie.

[Michael Ludin]

12:02 PM on 02/22/2011

more like if you smell halibut, maybe you should use toilet paper and go take a shower

[TurnToTheLeft]

07:59 PM on 02/17/2011

Massachusetts please pick a good Democrat soon and pull behind him so we can take back the seat held by one of America's greatest senator and beloved protector of the poor - Senator Ted Kennedy. Please hand Scott Brown the keys to his truck and thank him for his interim service.

[HannaSchmitz]

10:53 AM on 02/18/2011

Bleeding heart liberal.....the poor the poor. Kennedy was a very rich man. Don't forget that.

[TurnToTheLeft]

12:40 PM on 02/18/2011

Bloodless Tr0ll - Yes Senator Ted Kennedy was wealthy - therefore he could not be bought off by lobbyists and was free to pursue a higher calling. He used his life fully to help eradicate poverty, hunger and ignorance. He carried on the work started by his brothers - especially Bobby Kennedy's work to eradicate poverty and create a more equal access to upward mobility for people of all races.

[raker]

06:30 PM on 02/17/2011

They just showed another clip from the 60 Minutes interview. Brownie's latest preposterous claim is that his life of adversity (being powerful, handsome, wealthy, and well-educated is a life of adversity, it would seem) has made him "resilient," and difficulties "roll off his back." This was a knee-slapper, since Brownie's most marked characteristic is his notoriously thin skin. I don't believe a word of his story.

[DanSc]

05:27 PM on 02/19/2011

You wouldn't. You're probably the type who sees a rape victim and said "she was asking for it," or, "no means yes," or, "she shouldn't have dressed so provocatively."

[steelej]

10:12 AM on 02/20/2011

ME NEITHER. Scary how many fall right for it though.