Democrat ARRESTED – Domestic Violence Scandal!

A former Virginia political candidate who survived revenge porn now faces domestic violence charges in what she claims is the latest chapter of systematic legal weaponization by her estranged husband.

Story Highlights

Susanna Gibson Payne arrested for domestic violence after becoming advocate for revenge porn reform
Her estranged husband previously arrested multiple times for protective order violations and harassment
Gibson claims the charges are retaliatory tactics in their ongoing custody battle
Case highlights intersection of political scandal, digital privacy, and domestic abuse dynamics

From Political Victim to Criminal Defendant

Susanna Gibson Payne’s journey from political hopeful to domestic violence defendant reads like a cautionary tale about modern politics and personal vendettas. The nurse practitioner and former Democratic candidate was arrested on September 22, 2025, for assault and battery of a family member. Gibson immediately declared the charges retaliatory, part of an escalating legal war with her estranged husband, attorney John David Gibson.

BREAKING: Virginia Democrat Susanna Gibson Payne, who live streamed herself having sex for money, arrested for domestic violence (via @NYPost) https://t.co/gO4yrmmjX1

— Joe Rich (@joerichlaw) October 2, 2025

Gibson first gained national attention during her 2023 Virginia House of Delegates campaign when archived videos of her performing sex acts with her husband on Chaturbate were leaked by political operatives. She lost the election by fewer than 1,000 votes but transformed her ordeal into advocacy work, founding ‘MyOwn Image’ to push for stronger digital privacy protections.

The Estranged Husband’s Legal Troubles

While Gibson battled public humiliation and political defeat, her husband John Gibson accumulated his own criminal record. Between December 2024 and June 2025, he faced multiple arrests for violating protective orders and extortion charges following Susanna’s requests for legal protection. The pattern suggests a relationship where legal mechanisms became weapons in personal disputes.

Court records reveal John Gibson allegedly assaulted Susanna during a custody exchange in June 2025. The incident prompted additional protective measures, yet three months later, Susanna found herself facing charges. The timing raises questions about whether domestic violence laws are being manipulated by both parties in their bitter separation.

Weaponizing the Legal System

Gibson’s assertion that her arrest represents retaliation highlights a disturbing trend in contentious divorces where both parties use criminal complaints as leverage. Her statement that she is “a survivor of domestic violence” while simultaneously facing domestic violence charges illustrates the complex dynamics when legal systems become battlegrounds rather than protective mechanisms.

The nurse practitioner’s experience demonstrates how abusers can exploit legal processes to continue harassment and control. Her advocacy work has focused precisely on these issues, supporting Virginia legislation to expand revenge porn protections and extend statutes of limitations for victims seeking justice.

Legislative Legacy from Personal Trauma

Despite her legal troubles, Gibson continues supporting Virginia’s revenge porn reform efforts. The legislation she champions would broaden definitions of non-consensual image distribution and provide stronger penalties for perpetrators. Her personal experience gives weight to arguments that current laws inadequately protect victims of digital abuse.

Virginia Victim Assistance Network and legislative sponsors like Del. Irene Shin have cited Gibson’s case as evidence for systemic reforms. The proposed changes would address gaps that allowed Gibson’s political enemies to weaponize her private videos without meaningful legal consequences. Whether Gibson’s recent arrest undermines her credibility as an advocate remains to be seen.