When Taylor Swift was markedly absent from the VMAs, it was highly speculated Swift just didn’t want to deal with the drama. Yet, those conspiracy theories were quickly shut down when it was discovered the Grammy Award winner was scheduled for jury duty.
In fact, Swift was attending to a more serious matter as a potential juror for a case in Nashville that involved charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and domestic assault. AP reports that Swift was officially dismissed by a Nashville judge who decided she was unable to be an impartial juror due to her own pending civil assault case.
According to a court room reporter, Swift told the prosecutor she could remain impartial.
When asked, Swift tells prosecutor she is involved in civil sexual assault case that hasn't gone to trial yet but says she can be impartial.
— Hayley Mason (@HayleyMasonTV) August 29, 2016
But a statement from Whitehouse via AP suggests that Swift was concerned about serving as a juror with her own case looming.
“She asked to be left off out of concern for an upcoming trial in Denver where she was — she used the term ‘groped’ — by a fan at a meet-and-greet,” Davidson County District Attorney General’s Office spokesman Ken Whitehouse said, adding that she was willing to serve “on any other type of case.” Regardless, the judge dismissed her from the potential juror pool for the case at hand.
Swift’s own suit, which will going to trial in Denver trial, pertains to an ongoing lawsuit prompted by a disgruntled ex-radio host who claimed he was falsely accused by a member of Swift’s security team of grabbing the celeb’s buttocks backstage at a 2013 photo session. David Mueller, the man in question, deflects blame by continuing to assert it was one of his superiors who actually committed the act.
Swift’s counterclaim is succinct: “Ms. Swift knows exactly who committed the assault.”
If you have been affected by sexual violence visit Rainn.org for resources.
