Monday, February 23, 2026

CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp Accused of Sexually Assaulting a Man in a Bar.

Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU), is facing accusations of sexual assault shortly before the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) convention in Washington, D.C. The allegations, initially shared by journalist Yashar Ali, detail an incident at a bar in Virginia where Schlapp allegedly behaved inappropriately with several male patrons.

The incident reportedly took place on a Saturday night, less than two weeks before the 2025 CPAC event, which attracts numerous conservative figures to the nation’s capital. Witnesses allege Schlapp followed and stood uncomfortably close to various groups of men at the establishment, making his presence unsettling. One individual recounted feeling uneasy as Schlapp persistently remained nearby.

According to the report, the man’s partner confronted Schlapp before an alleged escalation of the situation. The accused reportedly touched the man’s genitals while maintaining eye contact, prompting his removal from the premises by staff. Schlapp, who is married to Mercedes Schalpp, allegedly returned later, engaging in a verbal altercation.

The CPAC organization has not yet commented on the allegations. However, Schlapp has faced previous allegations of sexual misconduct involving males. In 2023, Carlton Huffman, a former staffer for Herschel Walker, accused Schlapp of groping him, leading to a lawsuit demanding $9 million for battery and defamation. An investigation by CNN found Huffman received a $480,000 settlement via insurance.

In 2023, a ‘Do Not Invite’ list for CPAC leaked, indicating that Schlapp was attempting to blackball members of President Donald J. Trump’s family and America First Members of Congress.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union (ACU), is facing accusations of sexual assault shortly before the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) convention in Washington, D.C. The allegations, initially shared by journalist Yashar Ali, detail an incident at a bar in Virginia where Schlapp allegedly behaved inappropriately with several male patrons. show more

Matt Schlapp’s Crotch-Grabbing Legal Woes May Not Be Over After All…

Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) organizer Matt Schlapp, who originally claimed to be “cleared” of a sexual assault allegation against campaign staffer Carlton Huffman, may be back in legal hot water, with his accuser now allegedly disputing his description of the settlement between them.

Schlapp, who chairs the American Conservative Union (ACU), appeared to claim vindication when comments from Huffman appeared in the press, stating 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.”

“Neither the Schlapps nor the ACU paid me anything to dismiss my claims against them,” the statement said, raising questions about the specificity of the wording. Shortly after, it emerged Huffman was paid a $480,000 settlement by ACU’s insurer. Reports also suggest he doesn’t stand by the comments made in his name, which were provided to the media by the Schlapp team, with Huffman insisting he never agreed to them.

Sources say “verbiage in [Huffman’s] statement was not what Huffman had agreed to as part of the settlement,” and Huffman’s counsel has “notified Schlapp’s legal team that some of Schlapp’s personal statements and social media posts celebrating the lawsuit’s resolution appeared to be in breach of the agreement’s non-disparagement clause.”

Schlapp has already removed social media posts suggesting he had been “cleared” and that Huffman had “apologized.” Huffman has not recanted his original claims about Schlapp, a 56-year-old father-of-five, who is alleged to have sexually “pummelled” the younger man’s crotch during a car ride.

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Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) organizer Matt Schlapp, who originally claimed to be "cleared" of a sexual assault allegation against campaign staffer Carlton Huffman, may be back in legal hot water, with his accuser now allegedly disputing his description of the settlement between them. show more