Mel Sembler
 |
Melvin Floyd Sembler | |
|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Italy | |
| In office 2001–2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Thomas M. Foglietta |
| Succeeded by | Ronald P. Spogli |
| United States Ambassador to Australia | |
| In office 1989–1993 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Laurence W. Lane |
| Succeeded by | Edward J. Perkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 May 1930 St. Joseph, Missouri |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Diplomat, businessman |
Melvin Floyd Sembler (born May 10, 1930)[1] is former United States Ambassador to Italy (2001–2005), and former Ambassador to Australia and Nauru (1989–1993). He has also served as Chairman of the Board of the Sembler Company, which develops and manages shopping centers, and co-founder of Straight, Inc., a controversial drug-treatment center. Sembler has been personally accused of being responsible for the claims of serious physical and psychological abuse that went on in his centers. Currently, Sembler serves as chairman of the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Trust.[2]
Allegations of abuse at Straight, Inc.
In 1976 Sembler and his wife founded Straight, Inc., an adolescent drug treatment program which has treated more than 12,000 addicts. The program is said to have resembled The Seed, an earlier program suspended by the U.S. Senate for its treatment of patients.
Straight Inc. also became embattled in allegations of abuse, ranging from sleep deprivation, starvation, over exercise, beatings, denial of basic health needs, sexual assault, deprivation of liberty and speech and psychological torture.[3][4] One publicised case was that of Samantha Monroe, who claimed she endured beatings, rape, forced hunger and was locked in a janitor's closet in pants containing her excrement. She claims her mother was told her daughter was a liar. Critics of Sembler admit that these claims are all made by former and/or current drug users and have never been substantiated in any court. [5]
After these claims, the United States Senate revoked the license of Straight, Inc. in 1993, citing that the government should not be financing "cruel and inhuman behavior modification." It has been suggested prior funding was provided under pressure from Sembler and state senators [6] Sembler's Drug Free America Foundation continues to campaign for hard-line drug policy. Former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida, the brother of President George W. Bush, Former Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Karen Tandy, and Congressman Dan Lungren of California are on the advisory board.[7]
References
- ^ EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Senate - October 07, 1989)
- ^ Mel Sembler and the Advisory Committee, "Message from the Chairman", March 6, 2007, accessed 7 March 2007.
- ^ Several dozen former Straight, Inc. inmates call talk radio show or write on blog to detail serious beatings, torture, and other physical abuse they say happened at Mel Sembler's drug centers, Archive 1, Mark Levine's Inside Scoop on Washington, November 10, 2005
- ^ Several dozen former Straight, Inc. inmates call talk radio show or write on blog to detail serious beatings, torture, and other physical abuse they say happened at Mel Sembler's drug centers, Archive 2, Mark Levine's Inside Scoop on Washington, November 13, 2005
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
alternetwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Audit Says Straight Inc. Got Breaks, St. Petersburg Times, July 8, 1993
- ^ See this page and this on DFAF site for Advisory Board membership.