Craig Thomson’s Wife Stands by Embattled MP Despite Reports of Dalliances with Prostitutes
The Australian Labor Party may have kicked out embattled MP Craig Thomson from its caucus and the Coalition is not touching the former Health Services Union (HSU) official with a ten-foot pole. However, Zoe Arnold believes Mr Thomson is innocent of the charges against the legislator, including using HSU credit cards for the services of prostitutes.
In an article at The Australian Women's Weekly, Ms Arnold said she is standing by her husband despite the many charges he is facing, including claims by HSU officials that he misused the union funds during his term as national secretary.
Ms Arnold, a former radio journalist, thrives on the love of Mr Thomson, who expresses it by telling his wife daily that he loves her and their daughters, and brings her a cup of tea every morning in bed.
She admitted being distraught by reports that he hired sex trade workers but was calmed by Mr Thomson's assurance that he did not engage the services of prostitutes. The allegations came out when she was pregnant with their first baby.
"I told Craig the day the first story had come out that life would be much easier for us if her confessed to visiting brothels and admitted he had used his work credit card," Ms Arnold said.
"Craig looked me straight in the eye and said, 'but I didn't do it,' a statement he has repeated publicly and privately again and again," she added.
The MP's version appears to be true since a former prostitute who initially claimed that Mr Thomson was her client retracted her statement because at the time the alleged incident happened she was out of the country. The woman was initially interviewed by the TV show, A Public Affair of Channel 9, but the network did not air the interview although it questioned if the woman who recanted her statement was the same sex trade worker the programme staff interviewed.
While Mr Thomson may be a political dead duck for the moment with the Opposition negating his vote every time he sides with the Coalition by one member not casting a vote, the embattled MP is assured that at least one very important woman in his life will not abandon him.
"I love my husband. This will all end one day and then we will still have each other," Ms Arnold said.
Ms Arnold's article came out a day after an investigation confirmed mishandling of HSU East funds by the union's other officials.
