CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — Authorities say a libertarian political commentator and Pitt-Johnstown alumnus is accused of drugging and raping a woman in 2013.
According to the University of Pittsburgh Police Department, 30-year-old Cliff Maloney Jr. faces charges related to raping a substantially impaired person, raping an unconscious victim and aggravated indecent assault.
Police say the alleged victim came forward in January of last year.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the woman told police that the assault happened at Pitt-Johnstown in September of 2013.
She said that she was at a fraternity party when she was approached by Maloney, the complaint says.
She told officers that Maloney invited her back to his place for some champagne, according to police.
She said she agreed to Maloney because she knew who he was from other prior parties and she thought he was safe because he was a resident director at the Living Learning Center, police say.
Once back at Maloney’s dorm, the woman said he offered her a drink, and after drinking it, she said she began feeling weird, according to police.
Police say the woman explained feeling dizzy, foggy and unable to focus.
That’s when Maloney pushed her back on the bed and began sexually assaulting her, police say.
The woman said she was unable to move her body, felt heavy and thought to herself, “I was drugged, given a roofy,” according to the criminal complaint.
The woman told officers that she was unconscious for most of the assault, but remembered waking up briefly to Maloney raping her, according to police.
She said she woke up the next morning completely naked and quickly left the dorm, police say.
Police say the woman explained that she told a friend what had happened to her.
The woman told police that she confronted Maloney on Facebook messenger after Maloney reached out to her, the complaint says.
According to the complaint, when asked why he would do that, Maloney responded saying they were both impaired.
He also stated, “thought we both had fun,” and “from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry,” according to police.
Police say the woman explained being at another party in December that Maloney also attended.
She told police that one of the people there, referring to Maloney’s offering of a drink, said, “I wouldn’t drink that if I were you,” and “he’s known for slipping things in drinks,” according to the criminal complaint.
Court documents indicate Maloney is free on unsecured bail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 11.
Maloney is the former president of the Young Americans for Liberty but was removed in January of last year following sexual misconduct allegations, according to a Fox News report at the time.
6 News reached out to Maloney about the accusations and received the following statement from his lawyer, Peter Kratsa:
"Mr. Maloney denies these historical allegations. They are false. Of course, under our justice system he is presumed innocent. We look forward to establishing a vigorous defense before a jury of his peers."ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfpbyttcKeZJ%2Bkn6e2pa2MppinZZGYsLa%2FxJ1kqJ5dmb%2B2s8aipaBlkaOxbr7AqaCnn12svK6tzWaYrWWgnsG1ecmon6erpKTEr3nIp2RraGFo