San Francisco Democratic activist Manny Yekutiel is facing an allegation of sexual assault dating back to a 2020 house party. Yekutiel, a candidate for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing the Castro neighborhood, is accused by Brad Chapin, a city gardener and activist, of grabbing his testicles and causing pain during the incident.
Chapin alleges that Yekutiel approached him at a February 2020 party and "painfully clenched his genitals like an animal," according to a report by The San Francisco Standard. Chapin further stated that Yekutiel "stuck one of his hands down my pants and grabbed me and was squeezing me and intentionally causing pain."
Chapin reported the alleged incident to friends after the party and filed a police report in April 2020. He also wore a police-issued recording device when confronting Yekutiel, but the investigation was marked "inactive" after Yekutiel denied the allegations and no useful evidence was obtained, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. Text messages sent by Chapin to friends about the incident were reviewed by both The Chronicle and The Standard.
Yekutiel, who hosts political and civic events at his popular cafe, Manny's, has previously hosted notable Democratic figures including Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and former First Lady Jill Biden. His campaign for the Board of Supervisors had garnered endorsements from several prominent Democrats, including Sen. Cory Booker, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.
However, following the resurfaced allegations, several supporters, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, and Rep. Lateefah Simon, have rescinded their endorsements. "I take these allegations seriously, and I’ve said directly to the person who made them that he deserves to be heard. But I know what’s true for me: I didn’t do this," Yekutiel stated in a text message. He also noted that the police investigation was closed without further action.
In a social media video, Yekutiel described the public accusation as an attempt to "assassinate" his character and suggested that "campaigns can get ugly." He maintained that while he has been part of the city's nightlife, he has always strived to respect people's boundaries.
Yekutiel is running against Gary McCoy, a public health advocate and former aide to Rep. Nancy Pelosi. A spokesperson for McCoy's campaign stated that the campaign had no role in Chapin coming forward and that McCoy "stands with him and believes him."