Earlier this week, communications specialist and political commentator Mercedes Schlapp appeared on a Newsmax live show and called out Texas Senate candidate James Talarico for allegedly using the Bible to “push” socialism.Later, Schlapp, 53, shared the video of her show on Threads and wrote in her caption:“James Talafreako is the last person to be citing scripture on the campaign trail. His platform is anything but Christ-like.”Talk show host, producer, and writer Andy Cohen entered the comment section of her post and wrote:“Your husband gr*pes men.”Mercedes Schlapp is married to American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp. In 2023, Matt was accused of s****l misconduct by a GOP operative in a lawsuit. The civil suit was later dropped.Andy Cohen slams Mercedes Schlapp. (Image via Threads)Exploring the misconduct accusations against Matt Schlapp amid Mercedes Schlapp’s James Talarico criticismA Republican staffer who worked in Herschel Walker’s Georgia Senate campaign in 2022 sued Matt Schlapp for $9.4 million, accusing him of s****l battery and defamation in January 2023. While the plaintiff was unnamed in the lawsuit, U.S. media identified him as a John Doe.The plaintiff alleged that Mr Schlapp “f*ndled” him during a car ride while they were returning after drinking at two Atlanta bars in October 2022. The lawsuit also named Mercedes Schlapp and demanded she and her husband pay the plaintiff millions in damages on four civil counts, including allegedly trying to “discredit” him.NBC News quoted a line from the lawsuit which said:“Mr. Doe did not consent to Mr. Schlapp…”The plaintiff later said in an interview:“To my shame, I did not say ‘no’ or ‘stop.’ God knows it was not a wanted advance.”The lawsuit claimed that Mercedes Schlapp’s husband reportedly invited the plaintiff to his hotel room, which the latter declined. The following morning, the alleged victim informed his supervisors on the Walker campaign and made an attorney available for him. He was also asked not to drive around Matt Schlapp again.Meanwhile, the American Conservative Union Chairman reportedly reached out to the plaintiff repeatedly. After getting zero response, Matt Schlapp texted the operative:“If you could see it in your heart to call me at the end of the day. I would appreciate it. If not, I wish you luck on the campaign and hope you keep up the good work.”The civil suit claimed that after news about the alleged incident was published, Mercedes Schlapp allegedly texted the plaintiff’s neighbors that he was a “troubled individual” and was fired from multiple jobs for “lying.”While Matt Schlapp did not directly address the accusation, he reposted a tweet from his lawyer Charlie Spies.“The anonymous complaint demonstrates the accuser’s real agenda... to attack and harm the Schlapp family. The complaint is false, and the Schlapp family is suffering unbearable pain and stress due to the false allegation from an anonymous individual. The Schlapps and their legal team are assessing counter-lawsuit options,” the post read.In March 2024, the lawsuit was dropped and Politico identified the plaintiff as Carlton Huffman. Schlapp’s spokesperson shared a statement from Huffman:“The claims made in my lawsuits were the result of a complete misunderstanding, and I regret that the lawsuit caused pain to the Schlapp family. The Schlapps have advised that the statements made about me were the result of a misunderstanding, which was regrettable. Neither the Schlapps nor the ACU paid me anything to dismiss my claims against them.”Later, in an independent statement to Politico, Huffman said:“We have resolved our differences.”While Mercedes Schlapp didn’t address the ordeal, Matt Schlapp released a statement:“Our family was attacked, especially by a left-wing media that is focused on the destruction of conservatives regardless of the truth and the facts. But we emerge from this ordeal stronger as husband and wife, stronger as parents to our five daughters, stronger as friends to those who stood by us.”According to the outlet, Carlton Huffman was also accused of s****l assault in a separate case. Meanwhile, he sued right-wing activist Caroline Wren for defamation. The lawsuit was also dropped.The Schlapps have been married since 2002 and share five daughters.