An open letter and no evidence is no way to pursue an accusation like this ... especially after 15 years of silence. How do we know when something like this is

An open letter and no evidence is no way to pursue an accusation like this ... especially after 15 years of silence. How do we know when something like this is true? If the accusation alone is enough to convict in the court of public opinion, then that places a powerful weapon into the hands of bad actors that might want to defame or depose rivals. If the crime really occurred, it is a tragedy. However, by waiting so long, and weighing other concerns more highly than justice at the proper time, the author has basically given up his chance to pursue justice. Now, 15 years later, it is a very poor time to suddenly think about justice again. Any pertinent evidence is lost. Witnesses for and against the prosecution would be hazy, and most like lost altogether. Physical evidence should have been gathered right at the time of the crime. It is difficult work for the victim, but if we don't demand that standard for evidence collection, it opens up the criminal system to terrible abuse. Taking such open letters at face value, 15 years after the fact, also would create an atmosphere that is intolerable for a free society. Accusations alone should not be enough to break a defendant. Even serious accusations. To treat this letter as anything other than fiction at this point would be bad on a systems level. Destroying people's careers just based on rumor and accusations was what Senator McCarthy used to do. We all decided that was a bad idea decades ago.