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The suit, filed in a Virginia circuit court, seeks $9.4 million in damages and claims battery, defamation and conspiracy.
Schlapp has responded via a statement from his attorney, which he shared onTwitter. “The complaint is false, and the Schlapp family is suffering unbearable pain and stress due to the false allegation from an anonymous individual,” it reads. “No family should ever go through this, and the Schlapps and their legal team are assessing counter-suit options.”
The complaint alleges that the staffer grew uncomfortable, which Schlapp took note of, asking “why he would not look at him.”
The staffer says that eventually, he offered to drive Schlapp back to his hotel room, noting that the two had an early-morning event the next day.
On the drive to Schlapp’s hotel, the suit alleges, Schlapp “placed his hand on Mr. Doe’s leg. Mr. Doe was frozen with shock, mortification, and fear from what was happening, particularly given Mr. Schlapp’s power and status in conservative political circles.”
Schlapp, a longtime Republican activist and an ally of former PresidentDonald Trump, serves as the chairman of the Conservative Political Action Conference, a hugely influential annual conservative gathering that serves as a springboard for many right-wing pundits and politicians.
The suit continues: “Then, Mr. Schlapp moved his hand and began aggressively fondling Mr. Doe’s genital area in a sustained fashion. Again, Mr. Doe was frozen with fear and panic from what was happening.”
The complaint alleges that the staffer informed several others of what happened that same night, and also recorded a video in which he recounted the event. He claims he also told officials in theWalker campaign— his employer at the time — what happened, leading the campaign team to arrange for someone else to drive Schlapp the next day.
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The suit includes screenshots of text messages in which the staffer tells Schlapp he won’t be driving him any longer, as he was “uncomfortable with what happened last night.” Schlapp responds with a text that reads, in part: “If you could see it in your heart to call me at the end of the day, I would appreciate it.”
The staffer claims he was never fired from any job for lying.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
