Liberia

Willis Knuckles Confesses Participation in Group Sex

...But refuses to resign as Ellen's Presidential Affairs Minister

By Jay Nagbe Sloh

Managing Editor

Philadelphia, 02/19/07 (SIS) - Liberia's sex scandal hero, presidential affairs minister Willis D. Knuckles, has confessed to his participation in what has become an embarrassment to the Liberian government and people. A nude photograph widely circulated over the weekend showed Knuckles standing and having sex from the back of a lady who was simultaneously performing oral sex with another lady. And, contrary to the widely-held public opinion that the photo was super-imposed to embarrass Knuckles, the disgraced presidential chief of staff agreed the picture is genuine. He apologized for the immoral act, but refused to resign as many demand.

In a statement issued in Monrovia today, Knuckles shifted blame to a female legislator who, along with house speaker Edwin Snowe and his wife (Mardea), "masterminded the circulation of the photograph." He referred to the publication of the photograph as a blackmail by speaker Snowe to force Knuckles into fighting with Snowe to fend off attempts by some House members to impeach the speaker. Below is the full text of Knuckles' statement:

"A compromising photograph has been in circulation reaching serious proportions since the resignation of former Speaker Edwin Snowe, with distribution on the internet, among journalists and even on street corners. The purpose of this statement, therefore, is to give a clear perspective to the press and to the public as to how this situation has evolved.

"First, I must express regrets to my wife of 37 years, my children, my mother, and all my other relatives, my boss, the President, my pastor and my church, my co-workers in government and all my friends, associates and others in the general public to whom this episode has come as a pointless embarrassment.

"The perpetrators of this act along with a certain female legislator, have distributed copies of this photograph with the intent of embarrassing me socially and inflicting political damage to the government given my current political position.

"The photograph currently circulating was first brought to my attention two weeks ago by Mrs. Mardea White Snowe, who happens to be a cousin and her husband, Edwin Snowe. This happened through a mutual family intermediary. Exactly from where or how it was obtained was not explained and I am still at a loss to understand. Mrs. Snowe indicated that she had control over this photograph.

"They unsuccessfully attempted to blackmail me by offering me the photograph and if I would according to them, stop opposing Mr. Snowe and help find a way to resolve Snowe’s political difficulties.

"I rejected their overtures and suddenly, since his resignation as Speaker, copies have appeared everywhere.

"The public might want to know that in the 2005 elections, I vigorously opposed Mr. Snowe’s candidacy in the Montserrado County District elections. I informed Mrs. Snowe that I felt it my duty to oppose his election to the House of Representatives.

"Since that day, all Mr. Snowe troubles have been blamed on me.

"That people are prepared to go to such an extreme as what the perpetrators have done in an attempt to destroy another person’s character is regrettable.

"The accusation of two years ago of four people attempting to kill Mr. Snowe is still fresh in our memory. An NSA report later showed manufactured emails, arranged foreign trips to Ghana, etc. all part of a fraudulent make-up for which an apology was offered.

"Now for whatever political or other ends the perpetrator wishes to achieve, my private life is being drawn into the short and inglorious end of someone else’s public life.

"I sincerely hope that in dealing with the current difficulty that this situation has created, it should be noted I have forty years of service in the public and private sectors-one widely regarded as dedicated and efficient.

"In closing, I must thank all those who have offered me moral and other support in dealing with the crisis-Her Excellency the President, and other government officials, my family, my church friends at home and abroad of all persuasions, and Liberians in general.

"Willis D. Knuckles

Minister of State for Presidential Affairs
Republic of Liberia."