Republican strategist Carlton Huffman has dropped his sexual assault lawsuit against Matt Schlapp, chairman of the Conservative Political Action Coalition, stating that the allegations he made last year were a “complete misunderstanding.” Huffman, who previously accused Schlapp of groping him in October 2022, has discontinued the lawsuits against Schlapp and his wife, Mercedes, citing a misunderstanding as the reason.
Huffman, a former staffer for Republican Herschel Walker’s Senate campaign, claimed that Schlapp aggressively fondled his groin before inviting him back to his hotel room. The lawsuit sought $9.4 million in damages and also accused the Schlapps of engaging in defamation and conspiracy to discredit Huffman. However, the Schlapps stated that their statements about Huffman were also the result of a misunderstanding and were regrettable, denying any payment to dismiss the claims.
Schlapp celebrated the dismissal of the lawsuit, asserting his innocence and condemning what he described as an attack by the left-wing media. This development comes after Huffman initially alleged last year that Schlapp had inappropriately touched him at an Atlanta-area bar, prompting a senior Walker campaign official to confirm that the incident was reported immediately. Schlapp’s lawyer denied any improper behavior, while Huffman insisted that he would not drop the accusations.
In a separate incident last year, Huffman resigned from his position at the North Carolina General Assembly following allegations of past sympathy towards white supremacist causes. He denied the accusations and stated that he had disavowed those views from a time in his life that he was not proud of. Two months later, two women accused Huffman of sexual assault, resulting in restraining orders being granted against him, which he also denied.
Despite Huffman’s decision to drop the lawsuit, questions remain about the handling of the allegations and the actions of the parties involved. The case has drawn attention to issues of sexual misconduct and power dynamics within political circles. The dismissal of the lawsuit marks a turning point in the ongoing saga involving Huffman, Schlapp, and the Conservative Political Action Coalition. The impact of these events on all parties involved remains to be seen, as discussion and debate around the case continue.
