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Alex Salmond, Scotland’s Former First Minister, Is Arrested Alex Salmond, Scotland’s Former First Minister, Is Charged With Attempted Rapes
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for years led a campaign for Scottish independence, has been arrested and charged with an unspecified crime, the authorities said on Thursday. LONDON — Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for years led a campaign for Scottish independence, has been arrested and charged with two counts of attempted rape and several counts of sexual assault, a public prosecutor said on Thursday.
Police Scotland began investigating Mr. Salmond, 64, after the Scottish government looked into complaints by two women who said he had sexually harassed them several years ago, which he denies. But the outcome of the government’s inquiry was not made public, and the police and prosecutors declined to say on Thursday whether his arrest this week was linked to those accusations. He was released on bail after a brief initial court appearance Thursday afternoon. The hearing was held in private.
It is not clear what charge or charges he faces. Outside the court in Edinburgh on Thursday, Mr. Salmond said to reporters: “I refute absolutely these allegations of criminality, and I’ll defend myself to the utmost in court.”
Asked about the case, Police Scotland said in a statement, “We can confirm that a 64-year-old man has been arrested and charged, and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal,” referring to a public prosecutor. Police Scotland began investigating Mr. Salmond, 64, after the Scottish government looked into complaints by two women who said he had sexually harassed them several years ago, an accusation he denies. The outcome of the government’s inquiry was not made public.
Mr. Salmond has called the sexual harassment accusations “patently ridiculous” and has challenged the Scottish government’s process for investigating the complaints. Mr. Salmond was charged this week with two counts of attempted rape, nine counts of sexual assault, two counts of indecent assault and one count of breach of the peace. Prosecutors declined to give any details about the accusations that led to the charges.
He has previously challenged the Scottish government’s process for investigating the complaints against him.
“I have made many mistakes in my life, political and personal, but I have not sexually harassed anyone and I certainly have not been engaged in criminality,” he said in a BBC interview last year.“I have made many mistakes in my life, political and personal, but I have not sexually harassed anyone and I certainly have not been engaged in criminality,” he said in a BBC interview last year.
Mr. Salmond won a legal victory in his dispute with the Scottish government over its investigation. The government admitted that it had violated its guidelines in assigning an investigating officer to the case who had previously been involved in the complaints process.Mr. Salmond won a legal victory in his dispute with the Scottish government over its investigation. The government admitted that it had violated its guidelines in assigning an investigating officer to the case who had previously been involved in the complaints process.
A government lawyer said the investigating officer had some contact with the complainants before being assigned to the case, which could have created an appearance of potential bias. But the legal dispute did not lead to any public findings about the substance of the accusations.A government lawyer said the investigating officer had some contact with the complainants before being assigned to the case, which could have created an appearance of potential bias. But the legal dispute did not lead to any public findings about the substance of the accusations.
Mr. Salmond resigned as first minister and leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party in 2014, after a referendum in which a majority of Scottish voters rejected proposals for independence from Britain.Mr. Salmond resigned as first minister and leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party in 2014, after a referendum in which a majority of Scottish voters rejected proposals for independence from Britain.
But he has remained vocal about the possibility of a second independence referendum, urging his successor and onetime protégée, Nicola Sturgeon, to call for another vote. The two, who were once allies, have fallen out over the sexual harassment investigation.But he has remained vocal about the possibility of a second independence referendum, urging his successor and onetime protégée, Nicola Sturgeon, to call for another vote. The two, who were once allies, have fallen out over the sexual harassment investigation.