An aide to Herschel Walker’s 2022 Senate campaign made sexual assault allegations Tuesday against a senior conservative who advised former President Donald Trump.
The lawsuit, filed against Matt Schlapp in Virginia Circuit Court in Alexandria, accuses the American Conservative Union leader of sexually assaulting “Doe,” who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.
Matt Schlapp reveals CPAC sloppy polling at CPAC 2022 in Dallas, Texas.
(Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
The suit alleges that Schlapp, 55, “actively touched” the male staff member’s genitals while the two sat alone in a car in October.
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The lawsuit also accuses Schlapp and his wife, Mercedes, of coordinating the discrediting of the aide’s allegations, according to The New York Times, which interviewed the aide, who is in his 30s.
An attorney for the aide, Timothy Hyland, provided a copy of the lawsuit but only referred to it when asked for comment.
Matt and Mercedes Schlapp backstage at CPAC’s private lounge at The Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL.
(Fox News Digital)
Hyland said in a statement to The New York Times that his client is seeking at least $9.4 million in damages and that the lawsuit was filed because Schlapp never apologized for “his despicable actions.”
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“Because Mr. Schlapp refuses to admit wrongdoing, this lawsuit seeks to hold Mr. Schlapp and those who lied on his behalf accountable for their actions and statements,” Hyland said in a statement to The New York Times .
Schlapp’s attorney, Charles Spieth, has denied the allegations.
“This anonymous complaint demonstrates plaintiff’s true intent to cooperate with the Daily Beast to attack and harm the Schlapp family,” Spies said Tuesday. “The complaint is false and the Schlapp family is going through excruciating pain and stress due to false allegations made by anonymous individuals. No family should have to go through this and the Schlapp family and their legal team are evaluating the countersuit. choose.”
Schlapp invited aides to drink after a Herschel-Walker campaign event in Perry, Ga., on Oct. 19, the lawsuit said.
The aide accepted the invitation because Schlapp is “a very prominent and well-connected person in conservative politics.”
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The suit says the two met at a restaurant bar and ended up at Manuel’s Tavern in Atlanta.
While at the tavern, “Mr. Schlapp sat so close to Mr. Doe that his legs made repeated and nearly constant contact with Mr. Doe’s legs,” the lawsuit reads. “Mr. Schlapp also encouraged Mr. Doe to drink more alcohol even though Mr. Doe was driving. Mr. Schlapp’s behavior made Mr. Doe uncomfortable and Mr. Doe attempted to put distance between him and Mr. Schlapp.”
He then turned to a TV that was showing a baseball playoff game, and Schlapp asked him why he wasn’t watching him, according to the lawsuit.
Eventually the two left and returned to the hotel.
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The aide offered to drive Schlapp back to his hotel, and on the way Schlapp allegedly grabbed the aide’s legs and crotch, the lawsuit says.
The aide claimed he was “petrified with shock, humiliation and horror”.
