A former Virginia Democratic candidate who lost her 2023 race after sex videos surfaced online now faces a domestic violence charge following her arrest last month, according to a Wednesday report.
Susanna Gibson Payne, 42, turned herself in to Henrico County authorities Sept. 22 on assault and battery charges involving a family member, the New York (NY) Post reported. Police released the nurse practitioner after she surrendered on the misdemeanor warrant.
Gibson Payne claims her estranged attorney husband John David Gibson, 44, filed a false complaint against her after she sought divorce. She alleged the lawyer attacked her during a June custody exchange.
“After my estranged husband, arrested three times since I filed for divorce, assaulted me during a June 2025 custody exchange while I protected our son, he filed a retaliatory criminal complaint against me,” Gibson told NY Post.
“More than three months later, police issued a misdemeanor warrant for my arrest. I turned myself in immediately,” she added. (RELATED: Former Democratic Staffer At Center Of Infamous Sex Scandal Reveals His Whereabouts After Fleeing DC)
More than three months later, police issued a misdemeanor warrant for my arrest. I turned myself in immediately.
— Susanna Gibson (@SusannaSGibson) October 1, 2025
Court records show John Gibson faced multiple arrests in December 2024 for allegedly violating a protective order, extortion and using threatening language, according to the outlet. His wife obtained a protective order for alleged “family abuse” one month later, NY Post reported, citing the same documents.
Gibson Payne’s political career imploded in 2023 when Republican operatives exposed archived videos showing her performing sex acts with her husband on Chaturbate, a livestreaming porn platform, according to the outlet.
She lost her bid for a Richmond delegate seat by fewer than 1,000 votes despite the scandal.
Gibson Payne now runs MyOwn Image, an advocacy group focused on updating online privacy laws. She maintains the legal system fails domestic violence victims.
“Survivors deserve a justice system that recognizes abuse dynamics and protects our safety, not one that allows abusers to weaponize the law as continued control,” she said, the outlet reported citing Politico.