UPDATED 1/7/2018 10:30 a.m. ET: Less than two days after her home was lost in a possible arson, a GoFundMe was established to raise money for Roy Moore accuser Tina Johnson. Created by tech executive Katie Jacobs Stanton, "Help Tina Johnson Rebuild Her Home" had an initial goal of $100,000, and is closing in on $150,000 as of publication. In the page's description, Stanton wrote:
I don't know Tina Johnson. But I believe her.
Tina Johnson bravely shared a story about being sexually harrassed by Roy Moore. It has always been dangerous and risky for women (and men) to speak out against sexual harrasmment.
Today, this danger reached a disturbing level. Tina's home burned down and she lost everything. An arson investigation is underway.
100% of these funds will be used to help her rebuild her home. If Tina has insurance that covers the damage, she'll still receive funds from this campaign to help with living expenses and ease the weight of all this. Money won't erase what happened, but I truly hope it will help.
CNN reached out to Johnson about the GoFund Me, and she expressed gratitude and surprise.
"Honestly, I'm in shock like I was the day it happened. I can't comprehend all this, it's just overwhelming," she said. "I need a home for my grandson."
Original story below:
The home of Tina Johnson, one of several women who accused Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual harassment or assault, was destroyed in a fire officials are considering a possible arson. Per a report from Al.com, Johnson's residence in Gadsden, AL was burned on January 3. She told Al.com on January 5, "I am devastated, just devastated. We have just the clothes on our backs."
The Gadsden home of Tina Johnson, a Roy Moore accuser, has burned down; an arson investigation is underway https://t.co/326rjpIvmC pic.twitter.com/3lNColsEh3
In November 2017, Johnson said she visited Moore's office about a legal issue regarding custody of her 12-year-old son, and the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice made lewd comments and grabbed her buttocks when she left.
"This is not a politics thing with me," she said to the website. "It's more of a moral and religious thing."
Moore narrowly lost a special election in December 2017 to Democrat Doug Jones, thanks in large part to strong turnout from African-American women. During the campaign, Moore was accused of pedophilia stemming from his alleged repeated harassment of teenage girls. He was supported by Donald Trump, and after losing the election filed a lawsuit alleging election fraud that was quickly dismissed.
Natalie Barton, public information officer with the Etowah County Sheriff's Department, released a statement about the fire.
"The ongoing investigation does not lead us to believe that the fire is in any way related to Roy Moore or allegations made against him," it read. "More details will be released when warrants are obtained."
For the time being, Johnson and her family are living in a motel. Though an arson is not confirmed, many on the internet are using the fire to highlight how women who speak out about sexual assault and harassment often face retaliation for sharing their stories.
If you’ve ever wondered why women don’t come forward to talk about sexual abuse immediately, please see below: https://t.co/kRQ6U0OFSR?amp=1
Is this what comes of telling the truth? And people ask why women don’t come forward? https://t.co/jwq5s8ilz8
Women don't come forward about this stuff because it's fun or easy or ultimately beneficial to do so. https://t.co/NZfQmx3oN8
