Virginia Democrat Susanna Gibson plays defense after pornographic videos come to light
Richmond, Virginia - Democratic politician Susanna Gibson has come under fire after it was revealed that she and her husband apparently livestreamed themselves having sex on Chaturbate.
On Monday, The Washington Post reported that Gibson, a nurse practitioner and mother of two, filmed herself performing various sexual acts for tips on the legal explicit platform.
In two clips of about a dozen that have been archived on the site and now widely circulated on social media, Gibson claims she is performing the acts as she is "raising money for a good cause."
Gibson is currently running for a seat in Virginia's House of Delegates, a race that has gained national attention as it could influence the balance of the state's General Assembly in favor of either Democrats or Republicans. She has also established herself as a pro-choice candidate in a state that has notably low access to abortions.
Defendants of Gibson say she and her husband engaged in consensual acts on a legal platform, essentially doing nothing wrong, but critics argue that she did so to raise campaign funds, which is against the law.
Gibson released a statement arguing the release of the videos was "an illegal invasion of my privacy designed to humiliate me and my family," and described it as "the worst gutter politics."
Gibson will face off with Republican David Owen on November 7 for the Virginia seat. Owen refused to comment on the controversy, saying he is "remaining focused" on his campaign instead.
Cover photo: Collage: Screenshot / Facebook / Susanna Gibson