Wellington, July 21, 2020
National MP Andrew Falloon quits politics, effective immediately, after it was revealed that he allegedly sent indecent images to more than one woman.
Yesterday (July 20, 2020), it was revealed that the Rangitata MP apparently sent an indecent image – not of himself – to a 19-year-old woman. He said he would step down at the election.
Today he wrote to National Party Leader Judith Collins and Speaker Trevor Mallard that he was resigning, effective immediately.
Ms Collins said that she could no longer trust his story. She had been told of allegations that he sent pornographic images to more than one woman.
Change of story
Earlier, she told Morning Report the MP’s story appeared to have changed.
“I think that he should resign from Parliament today, now that there are further statements and I can no longer trust his story. I believe that would be the best thing for him ultimately. He is clearly now with his family and receiving professional assistance. It is that I believe better for him, better for the young woman who is my first priority, and for Parliament, that he resigns.
“It was clear to me yesterday that he was admitting what was being alleged, what had been alleged by the young woman, and that I have now been advised by media that Andrew Falloon has now changed his story,” she said.
Ms Collins said that she had not seen the image in question.
Assistance to victim
But she said it was of a pornographic nature and not of a male. “My first priority yesterday was the young woman who is now dealing with the terrible trauma and I have reached out to her and made it very clear that if there is any assistance I can give I will do so,” she said.
Police investigated Mr Falloon after receiving the report, but determined it did not meet the threshold for prosecution.
Judith Collins’ Statement
“I have no questions in my mind, no doubt that he did send that message. Any suggestion that he did not, is simply wrong. He only knew the young woman in a professional sense. It was clear to me yesterday that he was admitting what had been alleged. I am very concerned because I have today – it was very early this morning – received advice from media of other instances of this with at least another person, Ms Collins said.
“That indicates that it is unlikely to be a solitary incident. It may well be a pattern of behaviour – but the only thing I have to go on is the information from the media and I have not seen the evidence myself. But I do believe that with my priority being the young woman, and any other women who have received this sort of pornographic imagery, that Andrew Falloon should today resign from Parliament. Obviously he has, from what he has said to me, significant mental health issues, however I am very, very aware of the young woman involved, and any other women involved if this is a pattern of behaviour. If they have any [information] and they wish to provide it to me it would be treated with the utmost confidence… I would treat this extremely seriously,” she said.
The National Party was notified on late Friday afternoon of an alcohol-related incident involving Falloon in which he behaved in a way “unbecoming of an MP.”
Correspondence to PMO
The initial correspondence had gone to the Prime Minister’s office on Wednesday.
Jacinda Ardern said that her office had handled the matter properly.
“I had a quick discussion with my office about the best way to handle it. The most important thing for us was that nothing happened without the permission of the person who had written. We sought permission for it to be shared with the National Party Leader,” she said.
Ms Ardern said that once that permission was granted the information was given to the National Party leader and that was the end of her office’s involvement.
“We shared it with the Leader of the Opposition and that was the only place it was appropriate for it to be shared.”
–Published under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
