Her Political Career Vanished After Sex Tapes. Now, an Arrest

Susanna Gibson, a former Virginia legislature candidate who drew national attention two years ago after sex videos with her husband surfaced online, is now facing a domestic violence charge. Gibson, 42, who also goes by Susanna Gibson Payne, was arrested in Henrico County on Sept. 22 on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery against a family member, though she was released after turning herself in, reports the New York Post.

Gibson claims the charge is the result of a false report filed by her estranged husband, attorney John David Gibson, amid a messy divorce and ongoing disputes. She maintains that he has been harassing her since she initiated divorce proceedings and insists he was the aggressor in the alleged incident; police reportedly issued a warrant for her arrest more than three months later. The couple's legal troubles stretch back several months: John David Gibson was arrested multiple times last December on charges that included violating a protective order and making threats, shortly after Susanna Gibson obtained a protective order for "family abuse."

Susanna Gibson entered the political spotlight in 2023 as a Democratic candidate for a Richmond delegate seat. Her bid was overshadowed when Republican operatives leaked explicit videos—originally streamed on Chaturbate for "tips," and which she says were made only to fulfill her husband's fantasy. Despite the scandal, Gibson narrowly lost her race by fewer than 1,000 votes and subsequently founded an advocacy group, MyOwn Image, which is focused on updating online privacy laws and fighting gender- and sexual-based violence. In early 2024, she told 19th News: "I'm just fundamentally changed as a human because of all of this." Gibson also sat down with Politico shortly after she lost her race; more here from that chat.