Former Virginia Candidate Faces Domestic Violence Charges
A report has emerged stating that Susanna Gibson Payne, a former Democratic candidate from Virginia who lost her 2023 election bid following the release of explicit videos, is now dealing with domestic violence charges after being arrested last month.
Gibson Payne, 42, turned herself in to authorities in Henrico County on September 22 on charges of assault and battery involving a family member, according to the New York Post. She was released after complying with a misdemeanor warrant.
She claims that her estranged husband, John David Gibson, 44, filed a false complaint against her after she initiated divorce proceedings. Allegedly, he assaulted her during a custody exchange in June.
Gibson expressed her frustration to the NY Post, stating, “After being arrested three times since my estranged husband filed for divorce, he filed retaliatory criminal charges against me after assaulting me during a custody exchange in June while he was protecting my son.”
She added, “More than three months later, police issued a misdemeanor warrant for my arrest. I immediately submitted myself.”
More than three months later, the police issued a misdemeanor warrant for my arrest. I quickly turned myself around.
– Susanna Gibson (@susannasgibson) October 1, 2025
Court documents indicate that John Gibson had multiple arrests in December 2024 for allegedly violating protective orders and using threatening language. Gibson Payne obtained a protection order for “family abuse” shortly thereafter, as reported by the New York Post.
Her political journey was upended in 2023 when Republicans revealed an archival video of her engaging in sexual acts with her husband on Chaturbate, a live-streaming adult platform. She lost her bid for a Richmond seat by fewer than 1,000 votes despite the fallout from the scandal.
In addition to her political aspirations, Gibson Payne leads Myown Image, a group focused on advocating for updates in online privacy laws. She believes the judicial system fails to adequately protect domestic violence victims. “Survivors deserve a judicial system that recognizes the dynamics of abuse and protects safety,” she stated. “It does not allow abusers to weaponize the law as a continuous control.”
