Christopher Gallant, a New York Democrat running for Congress, admitted he posed in bondage gear for photos taken around 2010. The images were originally published by the New York Post on Sunday before other outlets picked up the story. Gallant is trying to replace Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in New York’s 1st Congressional District.
The photos show the 37-year-old shirtless while wearing BDSM equipment. His lawyer confirmed the images are real and were taken during a private session with a former partner. This admission comes as the race enters its final two months before the election.
According to reports, Gallant’s lawyer stated the images are genuine and originated from a private, consensual session with Chris and his partner at the time, a person with whom he maintained a four-year committed relationship. She noted that Gallant was friends with the owner of Mr. S Leather at the time.
The company honored his request to stop using the images on their website, though archived copies may still exist online. Azari argued that the pictures “have no bearing on Chris’s record, qualifications, judgment, or ability to serve.” She insists the campaign will focus on the issues that matter to voters.
The Suffolk County Conservative Party has seized on the publication of these photos to argue that Gallant is unfit to serve in Congress. They believe the images distract from the real problems facing the district. The Republican incumbent, LaLota, won his seat by 10 points in the 2024 election cycle.
While the race leans toward the Republican according to reports, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee still lists the seat as one of the districts in play. Azari declared that Gallant will not allow photographs from a past relationship or employment to be distorted and weaponized for political purposes. She added that he remains fully committed to earning the trust of the people he seeks to represent.
Gallant’s background includes work as a helicopter pilot for the Army National Guard and as a union leader.
