San Francisco Activist Faces Sexual Assault Charges

Manny Yekutiel, a prominent San Francisco activist and political candidate, is facing allegations of molestation stemming from a 2020 party incident.

Known for his cafe, which hosted notable Democrats including Kamala Harris and Governor Gavin Newsom, Yekutiel is now campaigning to represent the Castro district on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The allegations have emerged during this critical political period. Brad Chapin, a city gardener, claims that Yekutiel assaulted him at a house party in February 2020, reportedly grabbing his genitals and making derogatory comments about his body.

According to Chapin, a “sweating” Yekutiel approached him and aggressively squeezed him in a painful manner. “I was trying to run away. He wouldn’t let me go,” Chapin relayed. “It felt bizarre. He literally grabbed me by the testicles, which was intentionally humiliating.”

Chapin, a progressive activist, discussed the alleged incident with friends right after it occurred and later filed a police report in April. He even wore a police-issued recording device during a confrontation with Yekutiel, although this did not yield any significant evidence, leading to the case being marked “inactive” as Yekutiel denied the allegations.

The Chronicle and Standard newspapers reviewed messages Chapin sent describing the incident to his friends. Yekutiel, originally from Los Angeles, gained prominence as an influential Democratic organizer, known for hosting various political and civic events at his cafe, which served as a gathering place for Democrats seeking to mobilize support in a progressive city.

His campaign for the Castro representation had received considerable endorsements from well-known Democrats, including Cory Booker and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. However, some supporters, such as Attorney General Rob Bonta and Supervisor Myrna Melgar, withdrew their backing after the allegations surfaced.

Yekutiel expressed his concerns about the accusations, stating, “I take these allegations seriously… But I know the truth: I did not do this.” He added that the police had investigated and closed the case without further action.

He emphasized in a recent social media video that he has always strived to respect personal boundaries in his interactions, asserting that the accusations were an attempt to damage his reputation. “Campaigns can get ugly, and that’s part of what’s going on here,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Paul, another candidate, is running against Gary McCoy, a public health advocate. A spokesperson for McCoy refuted any suggestion that his campaign was involved in Chapin’s allegations, stating that it was “absolutely false” and disrespectful to survivors of sexual assault. They praised Chapin’s courage in coming forward and affirmed McCoy’s support for him.