NY Congressional Candidate Chris Gallant Defends Past Bondage Modeling Amid Campaign

Chris Gallant, the Democratic challenger for New York’s 1st congressional district, told the press he is unapologetic about bondage-themed photographs he modeled for the San Francisco company Mr. S Leather roughly 17 years ago. He explained the shoot was a consensual, private session with his then-partner and a friend who owned the business, and that the pictures were never meant for unrestricted public distribution. Attorney Sara Azari confirmed the images were taken during a four-year relationship, later removed from the retailer’s website at Gallant’s request, and hold no relevance to his record or fitness for office.

Gallant, a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the Army National Guard, former FAA air traffic controller and volunteer firefighter, has even turned the issue into a campaign slogan, “Make Politics Sexy Again,” likening it to a “Kim Kardashian moment.” He argued that if his family accepts him, society can as well. The campaign has not commented further on the matter.