Salmond charged

The Guardian reports:

Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and two of attempted rape.
Salmond, who appeared at Edinburgh sheriff court for a private hearing on Thursday afternoon, was charged with 14 offences: nine charges of sexual assault, two of attempted rape, two of indecent assault and one of breach of the peace.

Wow, this is huge. There had been complaints of sexual harassment etc, but it was not thought his conduct included alleged criminal acts.

He was Scotland’s Head of Government. This is equivalent to a former Prime Minister being charged with attempted rape and sexual assault.