MAS
New book to prove Michael's innocence
August 7th
Michael Jackson is the subject of yet another book about his early '90s dredge through accusations of child molestation - but he's likely to be a lot happier about this one.
Entitled "The Set Up: The Truth Behind The Michael Jackson Child Molestation Allegations", the book 'will prove Jackson's innocence' after his reputation was damaged by allegations in 1993 concerning unpleasant doings with the child, Jordy Chandler.
Matters were not helped when instead of being proved innocent by law, Michael settled the case out of court for a huge amount. Because it never went to court key witness Geraldine Hughes was never able to put her side of the story across, and is hence writing the book.
Was Michael Jackson falsely accused of molesting a young boy in 1993, and was the singer the victim of an elaborate extortion scam? That's what former legal secretary Geraldine Hughes is claiming in a sure-to-be-controversial book. Hughes is writing "The Set-Up: The Truth Behind the Michael Jackson Child Molestation Allegations." In it, she says, she will prove the singer's innocence.
Hughes, who manages a law office in Los Angeles, worked during those years for a lawyer who represented the boy, who was not identified because of his age. She tells me she kept a diary on the case and even supplied information to the Gloved One's camp during the investigation. She says she was to have been a key witness for Jackson's side, but never got to testify because no trial took place. As you'll recall, Jackson settled with the boy, reportedly by paying him somewhere between $10 million and $20 million.
In 1994, GQ magazine published a lengthy article suggesting that Jackson might have been framed. And in the piece, writer Mary Fisher referred to a source she describes as a secretary with a diary.
"I am that secretary," claims Hughes, who says she has completed 13 chapters — almost half the book. Her proposal is circulating among New York publishers. "So much about the case never came to the public's attention. I was there, and I know," she says.
But Hughes is too savvy to reveal the crucial evidence before signing a book contract. "That's why I stopped the writing there [at Chapter 13]," she says. "If I go any further [before landing a deal], I may as well give the information away."