Perry Hooper accuser is “heartbroken” by statements made in Hooper’s lawsuit
Former State Rep. Perry Hooper Jr. is suing the City of Montgomery, claiming that he should never have been arrested for allegations of misconduct and that his arrest and indictment were an attack on him because he is a note Republican. On Thursday, Hooper’s former accuser, Elizabeth Daly, released a statement saying that she is “heartbroken” by pleadings that Hooper made in his lawsuit against Montgomery. “The public servants who diligently serve the City of Montgomery deserve better than the allegations leveled against them in these court filings,” Daly said. “They viewed the surveillance video, which matched up with my statement and recollection of events. They expressed genuine empathy, care, and dedication to following the law in this matter.” Daly maintains that she was sexually assaulted by Hooper. “I have been in the long, slow process of healing, which has included extending sincere forgiveness to Mr. Hooper every single day, although it is now clear that my forgiveness and dismissal of charges was based on a false statement from Mr. Hooper,” Daly stated. “Yes, I am heartbroken at what I have read in the pleadings published by various media outlets yesterday, but most importantly, I am outraged as a victim, a woman, and a human being, that in the year of 2023, we are still getting sexual assault so wrong that a video of a woman being assaulted is classified as “laughable.” Sexual assault victims, women, and true men everywhere must now grapple with the knowledge that a man or anyone assuming ownership over another’s body, for any length of time, is an event to place in the “Comedy Genre.” This is a disgusting low point and is irresponsibly glorifying Rape Culture and misogyny.” Hooper, in his pleadings, has asked that the video of the alleged attack be released to the public. “The video, in its entirety (which is more than 2.2 seconds), tells a powerful story of sexual assault as a crime of opportunity, ownership, and degradation,” Daly countered. Daly also said she is “haunted” by the last words Hooper said to her. Daly claims Hooper said, “I’ll get away with it because I am Perry Hooper.” Hooper was arrested by the Montgomery police after Daly accused him of sexual abuse. A Montgomery Grand Jury indicted Hooper, but the charges were dismissed after Hooper apologized publicly to Daly “for unacceptable behavior,” and Daly asked the District Attorney to drop the charges. Hooper is a member of the Alabama Republican Party executive committee, a well-known Montgomery lobbyist and insurance executive, and the former chairman of the Trump Victory Fund. Hooper is a well-known supporter and close friend of former President Donald Trump. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Perry Hooper apologizes for “unacceptable” behavior
On Tuesday, former State Rep. Perry Hooper Jr. released a statement apologizing for what he called his “unacceptable behavior” towards Elizabeth Daly. The apology followed Judge J.R. Gaines’ acceptance of the Montgomery District Attorney’s motion to dismiss the charges against Hooper. Hooper, through his attorney, Joe Espy, sent a copy of the apology to Alabama Today. “I would like to express my sincere apologies to Elizabeth Daly. On August 16, 2022, Miss Daly was assisting my friend and me as a hostess where we were dining. I was wrong, and I take full responsibility for my actions. Miss Daly is an exemplary person, and my behavior was unacceptable. I hope she will accept this apology for my regrettable conduct.” Espy said that Hooper would have no further comment on the matter. “The State of Alabama has concluded that without the Victim’s testimony and cooperation, the evidence would be insufficient to attain a conviction,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Azzie Taylor wrote in a motion filed in Montgomery County Circuit court on Monday morning. Hooper, age 68, was indicted on sex abuse charges by a Montgomery County grand jury last month. Hooper was arrested in August after an incident at a downtown Montgomery restaurant on Commerce Street where Daly was working. Following the indictment, Daly released a statement asking that the charges against Hooper be dropped. Daly wrote in a statement released to Alabama Today, “I have asked that any charges against Perry Hooper be dismissed. The matters relating to Mr. Hooper and me have been resolved, and going through the turmoil of a trial would provide no more justice than getting a sincere public apology from Mr. Hooper. I so respect and appreciate law enforcement and the job they have to perform. Nevertheless, I request these charges be dismissed.” Daly has asked that the press respect her privacy and not contact her. Hooper is a senior member of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee – the 425-member committee that directs the governance of the party. He is also a member of the Board of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hooper was a frequently published political commentator whose columns were frequently published at 1819 News and the Montgomery Advertiser. According to an affidavit, Hooper approached a woman (Daly) working at a restaurant from behind and allegedly grabbed her breasts and waist in an unsolicited embrace while shoving his pelvis against the victim’s backside and began kissing her neck before she was able to break free. Hooper served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 2002. Hooper is a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump and a frequent visitor to the Trump Whitehouse as well as Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Resort. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
DA drops charges against Perry Hooper
On Monday, the Montgomery District Attorney dropped the sex abuse charge against former State Representative Perry Hooper Jr. after his accuser asked that the charges be dropped. “The State of Alabama has concluded that without the victim’s testimony and cooperation, the evidence would be insufficient to attain a conviction,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Azzie Taylor wrote in a motion filed in Montgomery County Circuit court on Monday morning. Hooper, age 68, was indicted on sex abuse charges by a Montgomery County grand jury last month. Hooper was arrested in August after an incident at a downtown Montgomery restaurant on Commerce Street. The alleged victim, Elizabeth Daly, wrote in a statement released to Alabama Today, “I have asked that any charges against Perry Hooper be dismissed. The matters relating to Mr. Hooper and me have been resolved, and going through the turmoil of a trial would provide no more justice than getting a sincere public apology from Mr. Hooper. I so respect and appreciate law enforcement and the job they have to perform. Nevertheless, I request these charges be dismissed.” Daly has asked that the press respect her privacy and not contact her. When asked for comment, Hooper told Alabama Today to refer all questions to his attorney. Hooper is a member of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee representing Montgomery County and a member of the Board of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hooper was a frequently published political commentator whose columns were frequently published at 1819 News and the Montgomery Advertiser. According to an affidavit, Hooper approached a woman (Daly) working at a restaurant from behind and allegedly grabbed her breasts and waist in an unsolicited embrace while shoving his pelvis against the victim’s backside and began kissing her neck before she was able to break free. Hooper’s next court date was scheduled for December 21 with Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines. Hooper is represented by veteran Montgomery defense attorney Joe Espy. Hooper served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 2002. Hooper was an early backer of Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary season and chaired the Trump Victory Fund in the 2016 campaign. Hooper was a frequent visitor to the Trump Whitehouse and Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Resort. Hooper’s father, Perry Hooper Sr. – now deceased, was the first Republican Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court since Reconstruction. Hooper is married and has three sons and a number of grandchildren. Hooper Jr. was one of six finalists that then-Gov. Robert Bentley considered for appointment to the U.S. Senate in 2017. That appointment instead went to Luther Strange. Hooper endorsed Strange rather than running in the Republican primary. Former Chief Justice Roy Moore defeated Sen. Strange in the primary but lost to Clinton-era U.S. Attorney Doug Jones in the special election. An indictment is merely the finding by a grand jury that the prosecution has presented enough evidence for a jury trial to take place. An indictment is simply a formal accusation. Under the American justice system, all persons are presumed innocent unless found guilty by a jury of their peers. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Perry Hooper’s accuser asks that sexual abuse charges be dropped
On Monday, the woman who had accused former State Rep. Perry Hooper Jr. of sexual abuse at a Montgomery restaurant in August released a statement asking that the charges against Hooper be dropped. Hooper was indicted by a Montgomery grand jury just ten days ago. The victim, Elizabeth Daly, wrote in a statement released to Alabama Today, “I have asked that any charges against Perry Hooper be dismissed. The matters relating to Mr. Hooper and me have been resolved, and going through the turmoil of a trial would provide no more justice than getting a sincere public apology from Mr. Hooper. I so respect and appreciate law enforcement and the job they have to perform. Nevertheless, I request these charges be dismissed.” Ms. Daly said in the statement through her attorney that she would make no comment to any reporter regarding this incident and not to contact her. Hooper, age 68, was indicted on a first-degree sexual abuse charge stemming from an incident at a downtown Montgomery restaurant on Commerce Street. According to an affidavit, Hooper approached a woman working at the restaurant from behind and allegedly grabbed her breasts and waist in an unsolicited embrace while shoving his pelvis against the victim’s backside and began kissing her neck before she was able to break free. Hooper has been a fixture in Alabama Republican Party politics for decades. He is a member of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee representing Montgomery County and a member of the Board of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hooper was a frequently published political commentator whose columns were frequently published at 1819 News and the Montgomery Advertiser. There are unnamed sources claiming that the Montgomery district attorney proceeded with the indictment against Hooper even after the victim came forward and asked that the charges be dropped. Hooper’s next court date is scheduled for December 21. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines. Hooper served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 2002. Hooper is a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump and chaired the Trump Victory Fund in the 2016 campaign. An indictment is merely the finding by a grand jury that the prosecution has presented enough evidence for a jury trial to take place. Hooper will have an opportunity to present a defense at trial before a jury of his peers. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
