Susanna Gibson, a Democrat who recently lost a Virginia legislative race, has expressed her intention to continue her political career despite the controversy surrounding her involvement in livestreamed sex acts with her husband on a pornographic website. In her first interview since the scandal erupted in September, Gibson stated that she regrets the situation but stands by her decision to participate in the online acts. She believes that a crime was committed when the news media discovered and publicized the existence of the videos. Gibson plans to use her platform to support and encourage other women in politics who may face similar situations.
Gibson claims that she was unaware of the existence of the videos until they were brought to her attention by reporters. She approved two background checks that failed to uncover the videos, which she and her husband did not expect to be recorded. While she acknowledges that consenting to live viewing is different from consenting to permanent recordings, she argues that the dissemination of the videos was a violation of Virginia’s revenge porn law.
Despite facing harassment and death threats since the disclosure of the videos, Gibson remains steadfast in her commitment to politics. She criticizes news outlets for covering her sex life, stating that such matters should not be newsworthy. However, the Republican Party of Virginia believes that it was not the consensual sex that voters took issue with, but rather the fact that it was streamed online. They consider this behavior disqualifying for public office.
Gibson, a nurse practitioner with degrees from the University of Virginia and Columbia University, decided to run for office after the Roe v. Wade decision was overturned, threatening abortion rights. While she experienced significant challenges during her campaign, such as journalists loitering outside her home and receiving death threats, she received support from donors, top Democratic Party officials, and advocacy groups. Despite ultimately losing the election, Gibson plans to return to caring for patients and intends to lobby for privacy and revenge porn laws, as well as advocate for abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
In addition to seeking legal action against the dissemination of the videos, Gibson aims to support female candidates who may face harassment related to their sexuality. She believes that many millennial women who enter politics may have explicit content on their devices, and she wants to address this issue.
Gibson’s attorney, Daniel Watkins, argues that the distribution of the videos constitutes an offense under Virginia’s revenge porn law. Legal experts believe that Watkins’ argument is plausible, as Virginia’s law on non-consensual distribution of intimate imagery is broader than similar laws in other states.
Despite the controversy, Gibson remains determined to move forward and not be silenced. She believes that women should not be treated in such a manner and plans to continue her involvement in politics with her head held high.
