Serious Allegations Against Eric Schmidt
Michelle Ritter, a 31-year-old tech entrepreneur, has made serious accusations against Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google and a prominent Democratic donor. In a complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, she alleges that Schmidt, 70, raped her and subjected her to various forms of abuse, including surveillance and harassment, during their relationship that began in 2020.
According to court documents, Ritter claims that during a shower on Schmidt’s yacht in November 2021, he forcibly slammed her against a wall and ignored her pleas to stop. She further alleges that he initiated sex with her while she was asleep at the Burning Man festival in August 2023.
Ritter had previously filed a lawsuit against Schmidt, alleging stalking and abuse. In the legal documents, she describes an “absolute digital surveillance system,” implying that he kept tabs on her intensely as they dealt with conflicts over finances and shared ventures. They met while Ritter was at Columbia University and began dating around 2020.
After Ritter sought a temporary restraining order against Schmidt late last year, they settled on a written agreement in early December, mandating significant payments from him to her. However, just a week later, Schmidt filed a “domestic violence restraining order” against her, which was eventually lifted after a new arrangement was reached.
She also accused him of voyeurism, asserting he secretly photographed her while she was undressed, including taking pictures of her in the shower. Moreover, she described Schmidt as exhibiting erratic behavior, alleging he exposed himself to the crew on his private jet and brought marijuana aboard.
Physical abuse claims include instances where Schmidt reportedly shoved her multiple times, resulting in bruises and scratches, while also threatening her aggressively. Ritter further alleged that he pressured her to appear attractive at business meetings and mocked her appearance when she didn’t fit his expectations.
Beyond physical and sexual abuse, Ritter claims Schmidt installed spyware on her computer in November 2021, allowing him access to her personal communications. She alleges he even created a backdoor into Google’s servers, giving him access to sensitive information, not just about her but also about others.
The relationship reportedly ended in early 2024 after images of Schmidt with a 22-year-old woman surfaced. Following their breakup, Ritter states that the invasive surveillance intensified; she describes an incident where Schmidt broke into her car and stole her laptop while she dined at a restaurant.
In response, Schmidt’s attorney, Patricia Glaser, has denied the claims, labeling them “false and defamatory.” On the other hand, Ritter’s legal representative argues that the lawsuit aims to provide justice for someone he believes has been exploited by a powerful figure in tech.
The lawsuit also touches upon a business endeavor involving a $100 million investment in a joint startup incubator called Steele-Perlo, where Ritter alleges Schmidt manipulated financial records to increase debt and undermine her control over another venture they shared.
