Jaclynn Moskow Scandal - Legal Action and New Evidence
7 years ago
28 Jun
It was a story which had all the ingredients of a shocking scandal – claims of sexual assault, racism, and sexism among a televised poker crew and players – and this week it hit the national headlines after one of the accused began legal action to clear his name while his accuser made public some recordings relating to her claims. And – as if the story wasn’t bizarre enough - one of the private investigators in the OJ Simpson case has been thrown in for good measure!
The Background
One month ago, poker pro, Jaclynn Moskow, released a blog post entitled, Racism & Sexual Harassment: The Reality of my Experience on Poker Night in America, in which she accused the show’s (now former) creative director, Nolan Dalla, of sexist behavior and what appears to have been a sexual assault, claiming:
He proceeded to thrust his head directly into my chest and cleavage and shake it back and forth.”
She also accused the show’s on-screen host, Chris Hanson, of making an anti-semitic remark, claiming he told her, “The thing about Poker Night that makes it so great is that there are no Jews. Every other show on TV has Jews,” apparently unaware that Moskow herself was Jewish.
She also detailed incidents of “ass-grabbing” by a cameraman on the show, inappropriate racial comments made by Dalla, and sexist remarks from fellow player Shaun Deeb who she claims told her:
Women will always be inferior poker players”, adding, “you are all too emotional.”
In the month since the shocking accusations were released, denials have been issued, legal counsel sought, interviews given by Moskow, and all manner of discussions have taken place in online poker forums and on Twitter.
New revelations – the audiotape
Things had seemed to quiet down over the past fortnight, but yesterday Moskow released audiotapes to the New York Daily News which seem to entirely confirm her claims of anti-semitic statements made by Dalla’s former colleague Chris Hanson.
Running under the headline: ‘Jaclynn Moskow, professional poker player and doctor, exposes rampant sexism and anti-Semitism in the poker world — EXCLUSIVE AUDIO’ the transcript of the conversation reveals the truth behind Moskow’s accusation:
Moskow: "Hey Chris."
Hanson: "Yes."
Moskow: "You remember the other night at the bar when I was telling all you… You guys were so nice and how great it was ’because you were from the Midwest, and you said like, ‘ah, yeah that the key was that, you know there are no Jews on this show,’ right?”
Hanson: “Right.”
Moskow: “I just wanted to let you know I’m Jewish.”
Hanson: “Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Moskow: “I just wanted to let you know. “
Hanson: “I didn’t mean anything by it, but it’s more of with like TV that’s…”
Moskow: “I know it’s the norm.”
Hanson: “Right, Yeah…”
Moskow: “But we were talking about why every … why the show was so great and why everyone was so nice.”
Hanson: “Oh Well, I, I apologize then. I didn’t …”
Moskow: “So I wanted to let you know.”
Hanson: “I… I... I apologize…”
Dalla prepares to sue
Nolan Dalla, through his lawyers, then released a statement announcing his intention to sue Moskow – apparently unhappy at the Daily News article.
The statement on www.lindakenneybadenlaw.com read:
This morning the New York Daily News in publishing Jaclynn’s Moskow’s various accusations against Nolan Dalla, The New York Daily News declined to publish material aspects of the Nolan Dalla statement to the paper as per the writer’s request for comments… As a result of these allegations by Moskow, a formal lawsuit on behalf of Nolan Dalla has been fully prepared for filing in a court of law (naming Moskow as the defendant) to clear his name for the extreme harm caused to both him and his family.”
This was followed by Dalla’s words, which began:
I unequivocally deny Jaclynn Moskow’s allegations of sexual assault and battery—which are accusations of serious crimes. They are horrific in light of the facts as she knows them. Her allegations led to my immediate and outraged response online and subsequent consultation with counsel the next morning. Necessarily I now must consider appropriate affirmative litigation to clear my name,” read Dalla’s statement. “In a court of law under penalty of perjury the complainant has both the obligation as well as the opportunity to answer critical questions.”
PI’s dig the dirt?
As if this wasn’t drama enough for one installment, Moskow also tweeted revelations that a private investigator had been trying to dig up unsavoury information about her – and claims the PI has been hired by Linda Kenney Baden, the lawyer representing both Dalla and Capra over the accusations.
Moskow tweeted:
Update: Since my story can't be refuted, a private investigator for kenneybaden found & called my exhusband, questioned him about my sanity
— Jaclynn Moskow (@DrJaclynnMoskow) June 18, 2016
The PI named by Moskow also apparently worked on the infamous OJ Simpson case, as well as having ties to a more recent murder case.
The PI invading my life for @kenneybaden@thechrishanson@nolandalla is a 67 year old named Pat McKenna who is now Casey Anthony's boyfriend
— Jaclynn Moskow (@DrJaclynnMoskow) June 18, 2016
For those who don't know the details, Linda Kenney Baden defended child-murderer Casey Anthony until the state of Florida refused to reimburse her out of state expenses.
Moskow was soon back on Twitter again, posting:
Update: PI calls exboyfriends, family members, etc. Dig away. This doesn't scare me and this certainly isn't going to silence me.
— Jaclynn Moskow (@DrJaclynnMoskow) June 20, 2016
Further questions…
Jaclynn Moskow has given interviews to several people so far, including Joey Ingram for his Chicago Joey broadcast, and had accepted an invitation from myself for a written PokerTube interview a couple of weeks ago. However, after sending off the questions she replied saying she wouldn’t be answering them after all – fair enough, I thought, she’s obviously had a rough time of things.
However, Dalla’s statement yesterday also asks a question which echoed one of my own:
We also have other pertinent questions such as: 1) Do you know of any video at the venue you allege the sexual incident with Nolan Dalla occurred? 2) Have you ever made allegations of improper behavior against anyone in the past?”
Whether this is relevant or not remains to be seen. Moskow’s claims so far have been proven true to the extent that evidence is available, and many of those who first disbelieved her – publically so, such as Chris Moneymaker– have since retracted their views and offered apologies.
…and further denials
Dalla continues to deny all of the allegations made against him, reiterating that:
In my dealings with Moskow I was never sexually or physically aggressive, and contrary to her additional allegations of verbal impropriety, I never communicated or conversed with her in a disrespectful manner during the entire course of our contact.”
He also discusses several other aspects of the allegations, including those against Chris Capra, the representative of the show’s sponsors 888poker. Moskow claims Capra was one of those who cheered on Dalla when he ‘motorboated’ her “at a post-filming party at a local bar”.
According to the New York Daily News:
Capra, who had hinted at a chance for a sponsorship by 888poker, later apologized to Moskow for his part. He called Dalla and Hanson’s actions “inexcusable” in text messages that appear to corroborate the details of Moskow’s story. Capra did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.”
Dalla commented on this in his recent release:
Capra’s statement remains unexplained to the media, as to the truth of what was in his head when he wrote it. Unfortunately, his text without public explanation by him or his employer 888poker, casts a terrible false light on my conduct. I am at a loss as to why Capra has yet to publically step up to the plate with the truth—which is that he never saw any improper sexual contact by me.”
He also stated:
It will be up to Capra, if called to explain his words in a courtroom. Meanwhile, I have been told by more than one person, that Capra has acknowledged he never witnessed motorboating or similar sexual conduct by me. To the best of my knowledge,” Dalla continued, “as of today, no one in my entire life history including anyone in the poker world, or anyone in the PNIA cast and crew party held at Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery in Pittsburgh, has come forward, publicly to suggest that I have ever engaged in any sexual impropriety with (the) complainant.”
Dalla, who left the show shortly after the allegations surfaced, also denies that the furore was the reason behind his departure, stating:
Let me be clear about the following: My departure from PNIA was a collaborative decision made between Anderson, President of PNIA, and me in the summer of 2015. We agreed at that time, to my continuation with the company—including performance of services and compensation to allow for a seamless transition, through March 31, 2016. My departure had nothing whatsoever to do with Moskow. I continue to have a cordial relationship with Anderson and former colleagues at PNIA.”
It would seem that this story will continue to run and should anything major be revealed, we at PokerTube will keep you up-to-date with happenings.
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