GOP Staffer Drops Sexual Assault Lawsuit, Apologizes to CPAC’s Matt Schlapp
A Republican strategist introduced on Tuesday that he has dropped his sexual assault and defamation lawsuit in opposition to American Conservative Union (ACU) head Matt Schlapp.
Carlton Huffman, 40, who accused Mr. Schlapp of sexual battery and defamation whereas working for Hershell Walker’s 2022 Senate marketing campaign, issued a press release and apology by way of a spokesperson for Mr. Schlapp.
“The claims made in my lawsuits have been the results of a whole misunderstanding, and I remorse that the lawsuit brought about ache to the Schlapp household,” Mr. Huffman mentioned, a number of shops reported.
His assertion referenced feedback the Schlapps made about him after he filed his lawsuit. “The Schlapps have suggested that the statements made about me have been the results of a misunderstanding, which was regrettable.”
“Neither the Schlapps nor the ACU paid me something to dismiss my claims in opposition to them,” he added.
Mr. Huffman sought $9.4 million in damages in his lawsuit in opposition to Mr. Schlapp, who chairs the Conservative Political Motion Convention (CPAC).
The political staffer had accused Mr. Schlapp of “fondling” his groin throughout a automobile trip again from a bar to a lodge throughout a marketing campaign cease in October 2022. Mr. Huffman claimed that Mr. Schlapp then invited him as much as his room, which he declined.
Mr. Huffman additionally alleged that the couple defamed him as a part of a conspiracy to discredit him.
Mr. Schlapp maintained his innocence all through. He and his spouse, Mercedes, issued a press release following Mr. Huffman’s announcement on Tuesday.
“From the start, we asserted our innocence. Our household was attacked by a left-wing media that’s centered on the destruction of conservatives whatever the fact and the info. However we emerge from this ordeal stronger as husband and spouse, stronger as mother and father to our 5 daughters, stronger as associates to those that stood by us,” their assertion reads.
The couple cited their Christian religion in serving to them get via the expertise.
“We additionally realized that the left is waging a relentless battle in opposition to these of us who nonetheless maintain quick to the ideas of America’s founding and the freedom that has endured all through our 248-year historical past,” the assertion learn. “The left not leaves disagreements on the political battlefield. More and more, they’ve gained a stranglehold on the mainstream media, social media, and the authorized system which they use to attempt to silence, disgrace, and bankrupt Individuals who’ve opposite, but appropriate viewpoints.”
The couple famous that the expertise sharpened their perspective on the U.S. political panorama and hardened their resolve to “stand our floor and battle or else the haters on the left will destroy each conservative and finally our nation.”
Mr. Huffman was later the topic of his personal sexual assault allegations by two girls, who have been granted a restraining order. Mr. Huffman denied the allegations.
“In my 35 years of practising legislation, I’ve by no means seen such a case of malicious piling on by non-parties akin to that which Matt and Mercedes Schlapp suffered,” mentioned Ben Chew, an legal professional for the Schlapps, in a press release.
“We consider it ran the gamut from selective leaks from non-party insiders with chips on their shoulders to others who didn’t show worthy of the Schlapps’ belief, and naturally, sure agenda-driven media who appeared all too desperate to destroy conservatives just like the Schlapps.”
Mr. Chew hinted that the Schlapps might take authorized motion in opposition to the “non-parties.”