An allegation of sexual assault against a San Francisco political candidate has become a major issue in a closely watched local election, with competing news reports highlighting both the accusation itself and the unresolved questions surrounding the case.
On Monday, the San Francisco Chronicle published the results of its investigation into allegations that San Francisco café owner and Board of Supervisors candidate Manny Yekutiel sexually assaulted LGBT activist Brad Chapin during a party in February 2020.
According to the Chronicle, the newspaper first contacted Chapin in March and conducted multiple interviews before attempting to independently verify aspects of his account. The outlet reported that it was unable to reach witnesses who attended the gathering where the alleged assault is said to have occurred.
The case first gained widespread public attention after The San Francisco Standard published a report on June 30 detailing Chapin’s allegations and their potential political implications.
According to that report, Chapin filed a police report in April alleging that Yekutiel assaulted him on Feb. 21, 2020, inside a bedroom at a home in San Francisco’s Mission District after he entered the room looking for friends.
“He grabbed me, and I was trying to get away. He wouldn’t let me go,” Chapin told The San Francisco Standard. “He stuck one of his hands down my pants and grabbed me and was squeezing me and intentionally causing pain. It was bizarre. He literally had me by the testicles. It was intentionally sexually demeaning.”
The report also cited a text message Chapin allegedly sent to a friend shortly after the incident stating, “Manny just sexually assaulted me.”
Yekutiel has denied the allegations.
“These allegations are false. What is being described did not happen,” Yekutiel said in a statement to The San Francisco Standard.
“When he reached out to me, I told him directly that it didn’t happen. He filed a police report, the police investigated, and took no further action. They said they didn’t even need to interview me.”
The allegations have drawn significant attention because of Yekutiel’s profile within San Francisco politics. According to The San Francisco Standard, Yekutiel has longstanding political connections, including relationships with figures such as former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
The outlet also reported that Chapin has political ties through an LGBT organization to Yekutiel’s principal opponent in the Board of Supervisors race.
After The San Francisco Standard published its report, the San Francisco Chronicle released its own investigation, offering additional details about the police inquiry and some differences in how key events were described.
One notable distinction involved a meeting between Chapin and Yekutiel after the police report had been filed.
According to The San Francisco Standard, Chapin said he met with Yekutiel at a local park in hopes of finding “some way to forgive him and move past the incident.”
The Chronicle, however, reported that the meeting occurred as part of a police “pretext call.” According to its reporting, investigators arranged the encounter, and Chapin wore a recording device supplied by law enforcement during the conversation.
The Chronicle also cited a June 9 email from a police investigator describing the investigation as “open” but “inactive,” indicating that authorities had not closed the case but had not brought criminal charges.
In comments to the Chronicle, Yekutiel reiterated his denial while saying he took the allegations seriously.
“I’m not here to attack or hurt anyone,” Yekutiel said. “I take this issue super seriously, but also I think in instances like this, especially with what’s being accused, I have to be completely clear that what is being described never went on and never happened.”
He added, “Anyone who comes forward deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. I won’t disparage Brad or question his character. But I know what’s true for me. And I understand the ugly reality of political campaigns today.”
The Chronicle also reported that Yekutiel and Chapin exchanged friendly messages on social media after the alleged incident and noted what it described as apparent inconsistencies in portions of Chapin’s account, including allegations involving attempted sexual penetration.
As the case has become part of the city’s political conversation, no criminal charges have been filed against Yekutiel. The differing reporting by the two newspapers has highlighted both the seriousness of the allegations and the evidentiary challenges surrounding the investigation.
With the matter remaining unresolved in court, the allegations continue to cast a shadow over the Board of Supervisors race while leaving unanswered questions about what occurred at the 2020 gathering.
