A Democratic congressional candidate in New York is responding after explicit photographs from a past modeling session resurfaced less than two months before the midterm elections.
Chris Gallant, 37, is the Democratic nominee challenging Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) in New York’s 1st Congressional District. The Long Island district includes eastern Suffolk County.
A post circulating on X highlighted the photographs after the New York Post published a report detailing Gallant’s previous work for San Francisco fetish retailer Mr. S Leather.
The archived photographs reportedly showed Gallant modeling collars, harnesses, bondage equipment and other merchandise sold by the retailer. Additional sexually explicit photographs later appeared on third-party adult websites.
Gallant’s attorney, Sara Azari, confirmed that the photographs were authentic but said they came from a consensual session involving the candidate and a former partner.
“The photographs are authentic and were taken during a private, consensual photo session involving Chris and his then-partner, with whom he was in a committed four-year relationship,” Azari told the New York Post.
Azari said Gallant knew the owner of Mr. S Leather and understood that the company could use selected images to promote certain products.
“Chris was also friends with the owner of Mr. S Leather, and the shoot was intended to be fun and personal, with the understanding that Mr. S could use select images in connection with certain products,” she said.
Internet archives reportedly showed that images featuring Gallant appeared on the retailer’s website between approximately 2011 and 2020.
Azari said Gallant eventually asked the company to stop using the material after he began considering a career in government.
“As Chris began considering a future in public service, he asked that the photographs no longer be used and that they be removed from the company’s website,” Azari said. “Mr. S honored his request.”
Other explicit photographs reportedly appeared on websites that were not affiliated with the retailer. Azari said Gallant did not authorize those outlets to distribute the material without limitations.
She described Gallant’s agreement with Mr. S Leather as limited and said it was “never intended to authorize unrestricted publication” by outside parties.
Gallant’s legal team also objected to attempts to use the photographs against him during the congressional campaign.
“He will not allow photographs from a past relationship or employment to be distorted and weaponized for political purposes or used to distract voters from the issues that matter,” Azari said.
“These photographs have no bearing on Chris’s record, qualifications, judgment, or ability to serve,” she added. “He remains fully committed to his campaign and to earning the trust of the people he seeks to represent.”
A separate photograph from 2007 showed Gallant attending the annual Invasion of the Pines LGBTQ event on Fire Island. His attorney said that photograph was taken before the modeling session.
Gallant has served in the Army National Guard since 2006 and works as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, according to his campaign biography. He has also worked as a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controller, union representative and volunteer firefighter.
His official campaign website describes him as a military pilot and public servant seeking to represent Long Island on economic, health care and public-safety issues.
Gallant advanced to the general election after defeating Lukas Ventouras in the June 23 Democratic primary, according to Ballotpedia.
He will face LaLota in the Nov. 3 general election. LaLota has represented the district since January 2023 after winning the seat previously held by former Rep. Lee Zeldin.
Gallant has not indicated that he plans to suspend his campaign. His attorney’s statement said he intends to remain in the race despite the renewed attention surrounding the photographs.
