Sure we can. Political decisions are made all the time at and by politicians, including (for example) refusing to sign nomination papers, kicking MPPs out of caucus, out of cabinet, off of committees, out of other Party positions. There's often zero due processes for those things. The Party is bigger than any of its members. Politicians know this and take the job knowing this. Live by the sword, die by it.

These days complainants have felt that they have more power to come forward, so they are starting to do so. Most stay silent still though. The one who waited 10 years remains anonymous -- she was underage drinking at Brown's bar at the time and likely didn't want to get in trouble. Perhaps she came forward now because she feels more secure in life, and knows that she's not the only one?

The other was preserving career prospects. her other option was to lose her job, a common problem with sexual harassment claims at work.

I have a criminal complaint about someone who ran in an election years back. I stayed silent. It's damn risky coming forward. The machine behind politicians can ruin your life. Look at what Brown said: He intends to sue. Libel cases are very expensive to defend. I know because I've done it.

I complained about a very abusive situation at a different job years back. And then I lost my job because of the complaint. Ta da! Lesson learned.

I once reported a crime to the police. A person tried to violently force their way into my home. I managed to get them out without hurting them (an open hand push to their sternum that pushed back over the threshold). I closed the door as they hurled themselves at it, screaming. I called the police. They came, but were useless and refused to do anything. Then the person who had tried to break in called police in retaliation for me calling the police and made a false claim. $4000 later, the Crown agreed that person was the aggressor and dropped the matter. Between their illegal entering, their statement, and the section of the CC they employed, the person had committed several violations of the Criminal Code. Nothing was further done. The Crown refused. Lesson learned. Don't call the police.

My point in all that is this: There is considerable cost in doing the right thing. If it's just your word against another's, move on. They win. Gotta tell you though, it is damn frustrating.

Maybe one day, if that person runs for office again, I will come forward. Maybe I will because I'll have the money to hire a good lawyer. Maybe that person will be saying, in order to discredit me "why did it take 10 years...."