Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, in May 2024. (Photo courtesy of Dan Helmer campaign)

Days before the June 2024 Democratic primary for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, allegations surfaced that Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, had sexually assaulted a woman. Helmer, who finished second in the crowded contest, later filed a defamation lawsuit claiming the allegations were false and politically motivated.

By late October, the defendants — a group of people connected to a Northern Virginia Democratic committee — had settled the case out of court.

In a statement, Helmer said that they couldn’t discuss the case in detail because the “terms are confidential,” but added that “the matter was settled to the satisfaction of the parties.”

The lawsuit had originally been filed against Avram Fechter, Charles King and Lissa Savaglio. Fechter and Savaglio have been involved with the Loudoun County Democratic Committee, while King has served as Savaglio’s attorney. Although Fechter and King have settled, Savaglio has not.  She was identified as the woman who allegedly accused Helmer of groping her during a 2018 event.

In the suit that was filed in January, Helmer claimed that in May 2024, Savaglio contacted him to warn that a “grassroots activist” had asked her about rumours of sexual misconduct between the two. According to the filing, she offered no additional details at the time but allegedly said the rumors were false and called them “typical Republican tactics.”

The suit also included screenshots of text messages purportedly between Helmer and Savaglio, as well as  an image showing her at a different event on the night of the alleged incident.

When the story was first reported by NOTUS, a national outlet, last summer, Fechter said the incident prompted the Loudoun County Democratic Committee to adopt a new policy to prevent sexual misconduct. He also said no immediate action was taken after the alleged 2018 incident because the alleged victim was not yet willing to come forward publicly.

It remains unclear what the terms of the settlement were, though Helmer had originally sought $15 million in damages. As Savaglio has not settled, it remains to be seen if the unresolved claims will proceed  in court — and what additional evidence either side may present.

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