Christopher White at NCR offers more details on the accusations against Father George Rutler:
[Alleged victim Ashley Gonzalez] declined NCR’s request for an interview through Manuel Gomez of Black Ops Private Investigators, who represents Gonzalez, but Gomez told NCR that he was contacted by Gonzalez within hours after the alleged attack.
He said Gonzalez filed a police report detailing how Rutler allegedly slammed the door of his office, preventing her from fleeing, and grabbed her before she managed to escape. According to Gomez, Rutler had invited Gonzalez to rest in his office in between her rounds of the church property.
According to Gomez’s account, Rutler entered his office to check the election results and then switched over to viewing pornography. Gomez said that the cellphone video footage recorded by Gonzalez had been turned over to the police and sent to the New York Archdiocese and the Holy See.
Joe Zwilling, communications director for the archdiocese, told NCR in an email that “Father Rutler’s case is currently in the hands of the District Attorney” and that the archdiocese is fully cooperating with the investigation, although he did not respond to whether the archdiocese or the investigators had taken custody of the computer in question.
Danny Frost, director of communications for the Manhattan district attorney, declined to comment, writing in an email to NCR that the office “does not confirm whether investigations exist.”
Rutler also declined NCR’s request for comment, stating in an email, “I am not permitted by Counsel to comment except that I enjoy the confidence of my superiors and am totally innocent. Until this matter is adjudicated it is prudent to avoid comment and potential libel.” …
… Zwilling told NCR that Rutler “does not have an assignment at this time” and “he is not serving as a priest,” although the church signage and the Nov. 29 bulletin from the church continues to list Rutler as pastor.
