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November 3rd, 2011
08:40 PM ET

Video: Hillary Adams: My father is in denial

Hillary Adams talks to Anderson Cooper about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, and why she recorded a beating seven years ago.

Watch Part II of the interview.

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Filed under: Crime & Punishment
soundoff (15 Responses)
  1. Bobby English

    I think CNN is missing a bigger story than child abuse on this guy. Think about it, if this "judge" is treating his own daughter in this manner think about all the kids he legally may have abused in his court. Family court judges are in the "wild west" of the legal system which is largely unregulated. In the past year we saw one such judge in Pennsylvania convicted of imprisoning kids for money. In my area there was a sitting judge convicted with another man in a case of child porn. The judge got a year sentence and the other criminal was sentence to 10 years. (Sounds fair?) The system protects its own which is why reputation protectors actively seek out web sites of victims telling there stories. Ever wondered why you never hear of a consumer feedback web sites on lawyers & judges? This judge is a child abuser but more likely a he suffers from a god complex because he's been above the law most of his life. Legal abuse is a real PTSD situation.

    November 5, 2011 at 11:03 pm |
  2. Bob English

    I agree this is child abuse but, I think CNN is missing a larger story. This judge had no problem treating his own daughter this way then how do you think he treats the kids in his courtroom? The family court system is the "wild west" of the legal world. Mostly unregulated because with the victims under age thus no voice against the abuser. There are web blog sites which fight to be seen but are beaten down by "reputation software". Search out courthouse fourm, NCP force, others. We just had two locals sentenced for child porn – a sitting family judge – one year, the other just a common criminal – 15 years...... (Don't forget the story of the Pennsylvania family judge who was caught marketing kids to a private run facility) Lots of stuff on this subject rarely covered in the media as a whole

    November 5, 2011 at 11:10 am |
  3. Deb

    If WAR CRIMES can be prosecuted many, many years later with NO statute of limitation, Why are Child Abusers not prosecuted ? Why are CLEARLY ABUSIVE Parents of underage children not prosecuted in America? Why does our govenment allow this to go unchecked once it becomes to light? Why are the 'least of these' (children) allowed NO VOICE after 5-7 years of the incident? This child is just ONE of many, many people who grow up in American homes, one of many who learn that 'it's OK to beat children." Why does American prosecuted WAR CRIMES and not CHILD ABUSERS? Abused hildren are kept silent in family structures where the abuser rules. Once a child has the courage to come forward as Hillary has, the Father, the Mother – the abusers ought to be made to account for their sins against their children.....AND...wasn't there another child in that house? Was this one beat as well?

    November 5, 2011 at 10:32 am |
    • Deb

      If CRIMES against HUMANITY are prosecutable, is this child, less a part of humanity? Shouldn't those who WHIPPED this child be held accountable? Image if a man, 3-4 times the size of the Father, came at the Father with a belt and started WHIPPING the Father...imagine....the force of that strike. We, America, went to war to overcome the violance that Sadam and other tyrants did to their people...but here, in America, these things can't be prosected within the family structure if a period of 5-7 years have passed. Why then, are the participants who abused the Jewish people during the war, being hunted down after so many years? Don't American Children deserve just as much justice?

      November 5, 2011 at 10:43 am |
  4. Carol

    What a show this evening! Parents verbally abusing their children about the Halloween candy and a father beating his teenage daughter. Verbal abuse can be just as damaging to children as physical abuse. Bullies bully because they are being bullied at home. Parents – treat your children decently and then you will have decent adult children when they grow up.

    November 5, 2011 at 2:03 am |
  5. Steph

    The father's behavior is barbaric. I'm not sure where I heard the mother's apology but that seemed to be more about her getting sympathy than facing her mistake and being concerned about her daughter. Our society seems so self involved. Where is the heartbreak for the pain her daughter endured. We live in a culture that needs to blame someone else for their behavior and it's a lie.

    November 4, 2011 at 8:58 pm |
  6. Rita Marie Kelley

    I am so grateful to Hillary Adams for having the courage to confront this trauma. Nothing but good will come from this. I am so sorry that she had to endure this torture, both physical and emotional, but now the scars will really be able to be healed. Thank you, Hillary, for giving a voice to all the children of the world–yes, this has been reported, now, in many of the world's papers.

    November 4, 2011 at 5:22 pm |
    • Melina Medina

      To hear this girl screaming is one of the worse things ever. I mean only in a very twisted mind this torture could mean discipline this is torture. There is a a huge difference between discipline and torture. I'm speechless. I'm so sorry for the pain she went trough I hope that she can heal her soul and heart. And the judge what the hell is she talking about when she says that parents have the right to punish their children ???? NOBODY

      November 5, 2011 at 12:29 am |
      • Melina Medina

        NOBODY has the right to do this not even to a pet.

        November 5, 2011 at 12:31 am |
  7. Paige Powell

    No where does this man take ownership of his behavior. I don't care what her motive was for posting the video, the fact is that the video shows outright physical and verbal abuse of a child. The world is sick and tired of watching authorities in power abuse it and this is prime example of such a thing! I am disgusted by his response!

    November 4, 2011 at 11:53 am |
  8. sandyo

    I hate that the judge is not admitting any guilt in this situation. It would be a shame for a family judge to give people the impression it is ok to beat your kid for any reason. Shame on him. He should retire.

    November 4, 2011 at 1:12 am |
  9. George Fossett

    The statue of limitations is different for each sate and each offense, this crime should be investigated and charged if possible, according to a breif search I find that depending on the injuries formal charges are possible...ie ten years from the 18th birthday of the victim of the offense: injury to a child under Section 22.04

    November 3, 2011 at 10:32 pm |
  10. Scott

    Clearly it was wrong what this guy did and there's no excuse but the motives behind this are sketchy. It's really shady that the mother and the daughter are both going after him when she was abused by both. If the mother was the judge would it be the daughter and father ganging up on the mother?

    November 3, 2011 at 10:26 pm |
  11. Mary B. Winfield

    Hilliary Adams has cerebral palsy and considered to be a disabled person. In many states, a disabled person (regardless of whether the disability is from injury, developmental or DSMIV) is considered to be a vulnerable person just as an elderly person is vulnerable. There is no excuse for her father's conduct in this video. I watched the entire video earlier today and can understand why the video went viral on the internet. Our children are not our property and chattel.

    Attorneys and judges must pass the Multi-state Professional Responsibility Exam – this guy needs to make amends to his disabled daughter and make things right. His conduct is not professionally responsible, even if it happened in their home. This man has to be held accountable for his wrongful actions towards his disabled daughter. There is no excuse for his violence and no excuse for the profanity he yelled at her in the video. No excuse, no justification.

    We cannot tolerate violence in our society, we cannot.

    November 3, 2011 at 9:39 pm |
  12. Grego

    I understand that the statue of limitations on this horrible behavior is 5 years. However, for a minor I believe that begins at time a majority (18 years old). So if the victim is 23 or younger, "daddy dearest" can still be charged.

    November 3, 2011 at 9:13 pm |
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