Sept. 15, 2026
NY Democratic Openly Gay Candidate Acknowledges Leaked Bondage Photos, Calling Them “Weaponized” Distractions
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RSS Feed Democratic congressional candidate, 37-year-old Christopher Gallant, acknowledged he posed years ago for an ad campaign selling leather bondage gear. He also commented on another past photo that leaked, showing him as a shirtless bartender in his underwear working a Fire Island event, saying he will not allow photographs from a past relationship or employment to be distorted and weaponized for political purposes. Gallant is in a hotly contested race on Long Island against Republican Nick LaLota. The Suffolk County Democratic Committee also chimed in, touting Gallant’s service to the community as a former military pilot, air traffic controller, and volunteer firefighter.
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00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It is Tuesday, September 15th. Do you have a problem with your congressman in whips, chains, leather, bondage? Well, that is going to be part of the question in one particular midterm race. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes. You said right before we started, no crime has been alleged here at all, because we've seen a lot of candidates have issues in the country having to do with all kinds of real stuff. Yes. This ain't that.
00:00:32
Speaker 2: You know, you start to actually put it in perspective of all of the other headlines we've been hearing about would-be congressmen and women, people running for office in some of these state races that are so crucial and so critical to the balance of Congress and the balance of power in this midterm election. And so, yes, politics is dirty and And now in the society we're living in where there are photographs of everybody everywhere from 10 years ago, 20 years ago, your posts come back to haunt you, your photos, your messages. And so of all the other crimes that have been committed or alleged, this for me, I feel like it's none of my business.
00:01:15
Speaker 1: You know, you just said things that come back to haunt you. Should it? Right.
00:01:19
Speaker 2: Right.
00:01:20
Speaker 1: Should it? And it's up to the voters. Robes, this is an interesting one in a lot of ways to me. And it is relevant, folks, that we're talking about a Democratic congressional candidate who is now having to answer for pictures that have come out, surfaced of him, Robes, from at least six years ago, in which he is in nothing other way to say it is fetishism. And bondage photos, but they were part of an actual advertisement. It's not like private photos from home or anything.
00:01:51
Speaker 2: Correct. He agreed to be in an ad. I believe he described it as kind of like a favor for a friend almost. But he is modeling a black leather jacket. posture collar complete with a chain and a padlock.
00:02:08
Speaker 1: Do you know what a posture collar i do.
00:02:10
Speaker 2: Not know what a posture collar is but it does seem to have something to do with snm but they're they're calling it an x-rated modeling photo there's nothing x-rated about it that's how they're i've seen headlines saying that you.
00:02:23
Speaker 1: Know who attribute who used that headline oh.
00:02:25
Speaker 2: Yeah a republican leaning um All right. Publication, yes. Okay, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. A conservative-leaning publication, and that is how it's being described by folks who want you to see it through that lens.
00:02:37
Speaker 1: Okay, how do most people see it? Through what lens? If you see someone, generally, what do you say, Robes? Forget this guy for a second. We'll get into who exactly he is. And actually, this is a very important race. But, Robes, generally, what do we... Is this still seen as something on the outskirts, on the fringes?
00:02:55
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:02:55
Speaker 1: The idea of bondage is not normal. Excuse me, I'm using air quotes there, people. But I'm saying most people just don't accept it as something they do.
00:03:04
Speaker 2: I think most people consider it a fetish.
00:03:06
Speaker 1: A fetish.
00:03:07
Speaker 2: Some people might consider it deviant, but I don't think anyone thinks of it as criminal. Or if you choose to do this in your free time, it somehow... bears any weight or is a reflection of how you exist in your professional life.
00:03:23
Speaker 1: Yeah, this is an interesting one to me.
00:03:27
Speaker 2: I don't think we should know.
00:03:29
Speaker 1: We should know, but even if we do, then we then judge and that you're not, what, good enough for office or to hold this position or to teach at a school. Robes, we know some schoolteachers. that posts some stuff that we are pretty amazed by. I'm like, wow, this person's around children. And it's still comfortable putting the stuff out.
00:03:47
Speaker 2: Yes, drinking and partying and all that.
00:03:49
Speaker 1: Kind of thing. It does not say that Christopher Gallant cannot serve in Congress. His name is Christopher Gallant. He's 37 years old, and he's running in New York's 1st District. This is one that Democrats do have an eye on, Robes, because even though they do have an outside shot, they think they got a shot. With Christopher Gallant, who is 37 and robes a good-looking, good-resuméed candidate. And I say good-looking, not just physically good-looking. He looks the part.
00:04:17
Speaker 2: As a politician. He does. He's got a very impressive military resume. He was a Black Hawk pilot, a military pilot. former ATC, he is openly gay. He is not hiding the fact that he is gay. He is a gay Democrat who is running for Congress. And yes, he is in a tight race, correct? He's running against his opponent, Republican Nick LaLotta.
00:04:42
Speaker 1: This is considered a vulnerable district for Republicans, even though, yes, LaLotta does hold the lead by outside the margin of error in the polling I've seen. This is still one that Democrats have been focused on because they believe... Rose, you got a helicopter pilot and a Democrat and he's gay. Yes. In a district where that might matter. We'll explain that a little more if you're not familiar with New York's 1st District. But, Rose, you kind of described the pictures that are out there and I want to make sure we get them, I guess, the best we can here, Rose. But there's a collar around his neck and there's a chain attached to it. That's fair. At least one photo. What else was it? There was the... What's the thing you called he was wearing? Oh, yeah. The X or the hex.
00:05:27
Speaker 2: I don't know. It's like a harness, kind of like a leather harness with studs. But he was playing, that was him kind of dressing up. He was just getting a photo taken.
00:05:37
Speaker 1: And that's why, and then they have another one, Robes, the bartending thing he was doing. And that was at a famous, pretty famous event in this area, actually, called the Invasions of the Pines, where essentially what it is is a ferry takes, a ferry, an actual boat, a ferry takes... queens from one spot to another to invade the pines on Fire Island.
00:05:59
Speaker 2: Fire Island. This is on the 4th of July. It's an annual celebration and there's a photo of him at a party. There's a bunch of guys in the background you can see and he's just in his underwear, basically.
00:06:10
Speaker 1: Serving as a bartender that night or something he does. Robes, I look at this and I see a gay guy doing I guess some stuff no other gay guys to do. For me at least, Robes, much of what I saw in the pictures because of maybe where we live and what we're exposed to. I wouldn't even stop to look at this photos.
00:06:31
Speaker 2: No, because look, he is, he is a gay man. He has, um, taken photos with friends. He has a right to a private life. Nothing he did in any of those photos, to me, stands out in a way that would make him unfit for office or in any way would make me less likely to vote him. He looks like he likes to have fun. I have no problem with that. I appreciate that. Looks like he knows how to let off steam. Maybe that's a good thing. I mean, that just wouldn't stop me from voting for somebody. And look, when you talked about the fact that he yes, was this military pilot. He's also a volunteer firefighter. As we mentioned, he worked as an air traffic controller, so he's good under pressure. He's brave in that he will go into a running... I mean, he'll run into a burning building to save your life. He knows how to operate a Blackhawk helicopter. He's been in the Army National Guard since 2006. I mean, look, he has all of the attributes you would want, I would imagine, in a public servant. And so the fact that he's gay and likes to take his shirt off and has a little fun in the bedroom that maybe we don't understand, I don't see how that... Has anything to do with his ability to serve.
00:07:44
Speaker 1: And again, we talk about, you said in the bedroom, Rose, none of these, they're not even allegations. None of this stuff they're trying to expose or talk about with him has anything to do with him. Any relationship he's been in or out of or any impropriety.
00:07:58
Speaker 2: Correct. Nothing at all. And that's so important.
00:08:00
Speaker 1: They're just putting up a picture and say, look at this guy. He has a leather collar around his neck with a chain. You wouldn't do that, would you? This guy's unfit. They're suggesting that anything outside of your norm is also unfit.
00:08:14
Speaker 2: Correct.
00:08:15
Speaker 1: That's a problem.
00:08:16
Speaker 2: I did like Gallant's lawyer statement, though. I thought they did a very good job. at dealing with these headlines. It reads, the photographs are authentic.
00:08:25
Speaker 1: Great way to start. Great way to start, baby. Yep.
00:08:29
Speaker 2: Yep. We stand by them. 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. Chris was also friends with the owner of Mr. S.
00:08:44
Speaker 1: Leather.
00:08:44
Speaker 2: 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. That limited understanding was never intended to authorize unrestricted publication, distribution, or use by third parties.
00:09:00
Speaker 1: That kind of explains it. Robes, again, there's no allegation of any wrongdoing.
00:09:05
Speaker 2: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. And then in terms of the other photos showing him in his underwear bartending at that Fire Island Invasion of the Pines event, they said this venue regularly hosted themed and promotional events, and the image depicts Chris working during one such event. It reflects nothing more than the setting and circumstances of his employment. Presenting these images without their full context appears calculated to invite false and misleading assumptions about Chris's private life. 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. Well done.
00:09:46
Speaker 1: They actually made a point there that I don't think we hit on strongly enough. The pictures were not of him actually in his private life at his home. These were all associated with doing a favor for a friend. doing a shoot for business and getting paid at a particular event yeah i mean this isn't even necessarily him and his pride look what he does at home Yes. No, some friends ask them to do a favor. Sounds like a good friend.
00:10:11
Speaker 2: Yeah, I appreciated how unapologetic it was, how matter of fact it was, how transparent it was.
00:10:18
Speaker 1: This is me.
00:10:18
Speaker 2: And how it points to the fact that these were not meant for public distribution. And frankly, I don't need to see, like, I don't want to see a congressman or woman out with their friends drinking. Like, I just, I don't need to see what people are entitled to a private life, even when you are a public figure. And if you're not being accused of doing something criminal... or doing anything that causes harm to anyone else, it is none of our business.
00:10:43
Speaker 1: This is just meant to try to embarrass in some way. You said, Robes, I don't want to see. The next question for somebody, if it's a legitimate one, do you need to see?
00:10:52
Speaker 2: No.
00:10:53
Speaker 1: Right? Do I need to know that my congressman is accused of sexual assault?
00:10:58
Speaker 2: Yes. Yes.
00:10:59
Speaker 1: Do I need to know?
00:11:01
Speaker 2: That my congressman likes to suck women's toes? No, I don't.
00:11:05
Speaker 1: Or that six years ago he bartended with his shirt off?
00:11:10
Speaker 2: No.
00:11:10
Speaker 1: Not really. I don't. Ropes, in these pictures, first of all, can you explain? You can explain better than I can. This district, the first district, includes a big chunk of Long Island that includes Fire Island.
00:11:23
Speaker 2: Yes. Fire Island is a, look, families go there. I've been there a couple of times myself, but it is a known gay escape. This is an island that's very welcoming to the LGBTQ plus community. It has been for decades, perhaps even at a time when it wasn't in other areas. So it's been an oasis, a haven, so to speak. And obviously we have a lot of gay friends here living in New York City, and it is a mecca for many of them in the summer. And Fourth of July specifically, but there are events and themes tied to some of these. There are several different ferry ports you can enter on Fire Island. It's gorgeous out there, by the way.
00:12:04
Speaker 1: It's not quite. stonewall in historical but yes it's but it's that type of relevant in this area robes where folks didn't have a place to go they found a vacation haven they found a playground and this is a very famous place i think most people in the country might not get that part of it but robes i wondered when i saw a district is this really going to hurt him that much it's just going to help.
00:12:28
Speaker 2: Him right i mean that's true now you do have um and i some folks who have some religious like beliefs and that could play into it as well. You never know. Long Island is a very, very diverse island.
00:12:41
Speaker 1: It's a strong Republican hold, at least this Republican area.
00:12:44
Speaker 2: You have a lot of Italian Catholics, a lot of different demographics there. And look, the firefighters, that blue collar guy thing, I don't know how this might read for them, but he's also a firefighter. He's also a military guy. So he has a lot of the same attributes that many of his constituents or potential constituents.
00:13:04
Speaker 1: And I wondered if it would backfire as a way that you're trying to take down otherwise from everything a decent dude. Like even if you disagree with politics, this seems there's a meanness to it that I wonder if people are going to push back.
00:13:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, because he does on his resume seem like a man of service.
00:13:23
Speaker 1: Again, we haven't talked anything about his politics. Don't know his politics and don't care. This isn't what this is about, baby. I would defend anybody, a republic. It doesn't matter.
00:13:31
Speaker 2: It's about an unfair character assassination that's unwarranted.
00:13:35
Speaker 1: That's true. Well, we let you hear, and you love the response, Rose, from his attorney. I loved the Democratic Committee's response in Suffolk County, where this district is. It is a damn doozy. Well done. We'll let you hear it. Stay here.
00:14:01
Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone to Amy and TJ. Yes, we let you hear Chris Gallant's attorney's response, but Suffolk County Democratic Committee, they did, uh, another really stellar job in responding to these photos that had been leaked. Um, they, they started out, this is Chris Gallant, guardsman, firefighter, air traffic controller, union leader, and Suffolk County's next Democratic congressman. Whatever Republican political hack thought sending old pictures of him to the New York Post actually exposed three things. Number one, Nick LaLotta is scared of Chris Gallant because while Chris is talking about affordability and health care, most of Nick LaLotta's posts are about pizza.
00:14:49
Speaker 1: Well done.
00:14:49
Speaker 2: Well done. Number two, there is now documented proof that Chris Gallant has a six-pack.
00:14:56
Speaker 1: For the win. For the win.
00:14:59
Speaker 2: Number three, how little they think of Suffolk County voters.
00:15:02
Speaker 1: Good point. Bring it back home.
00:15:04
Speaker 2: The Suffolk County Democratic Committee is proud to fight for Chris Gallant.
00:15:08
Speaker 1: What do you do, baby?
00:15:10
Speaker 2: It was a great comeback. Look, they made one little jab about Nick LaLotta liking pizza. They didn't get mean.
00:15:16
Speaker 1: That wasn't even mean.
00:15:17
Speaker 2: They didn't get mean. They didn't fire back at him and try to throw him under the bus and deflect and defend. No, they stood by their guy. They touted what they believe about him and about what he stands for. And they just did a kind of a silly little fun poke at the opponent. But they didn't get mean. They didn't go low.
00:15:35
Speaker 1: I'm with you, baby.
00:15:36
Speaker 2: And I actually thought that was a brilliant strategy.
00:15:39
Speaker 1: Documented proof he has a six-pack. That's all this proved. That's all this proved. Moving on.
00:15:45
Speaker 2: I wonder, I wonder if this will backfire for the Republicans. I don't know. They may know their audience well. They absolutely know who they're speaking to. And certainly there is a group of folks who would not look kindly at that and think, I don't want a guy who has a leather collar around his neck being led by a chain leading this constituency or representing this area. But I still think most people are really capable of separating the two.
00:16:14
Speaker 1: That's a thing. They're not giving voters, knock yourselves out, make the call. Let's vote on policy, please.
00:16:18
Speaker 2: Let's vote on policy. Let's not vote on pretend politics. indecency because it's not, but I guess that's, they're trying to put this or look at, have folks look at this through a lens of immorality. Even, I don't even know what they're saying.
00:16:34
Speaker 1: Yes. And for all those that look at the pictures and want to immediately criticize, stop and think about your bedroom practices. And if people knew about some of the stuff you do on your off time and how you dress up and about that maid's outfit, that's still in the back of your closet, And about that video you're hoping still never gets out. Really, I mean, just, none of it's deviant, none of it's wrong. I'm just saying it's private. And just, we shouldn't judge this guy.
00:17:01
Speaker 2: Because he dressed up in robes.
00:17:03
Speaker 1: I dressed up as... As Tyler Perry's character.
00:17:07
Speaker 2: Oh, I was waiting. I was like, what did you do? Oh, that was for Halloween. Yeah, you were.
00:17:10
Speaker 1: What was that?
00:17:11
Speaker 2: Oh, it was for Halloween. I was the.
00:17:13
Speaker 1: Madea.
00:17:13
Speaker 2: And you were Madea.
00:17:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, Rose. Out of context, I was running for Congress. Somebody just put that picture up. Is this what you want? A cross-dressing... That is a funny picture.
00:17:25
Speaker 2: We should put that up.
00:17:26
Speaker 1: We shouldn't. But we appreciate you as always, folks, for spending a little time. Wanted to get this one on your radar. It will get more and more attention. Remember, New York's first district now. Democrats certainly think it's in play. And yes, the next congressman from that district might be a guy who once bartended in his underwear. And with that, we always appreciate you spending time with us. I'm TJ. That's Robes. Talk soon.
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It is Tuesday, September 15th. Do you have a problem with your congressman in whips, chains, leather, bondage? Well, that is going to be part of the question in one particular midterm race. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes. You said right before we started, no crime has been alleged here at all, because we've seen a lot of candidates have issues in the country having to do with all kinds of real stuff. Yes. This ain't that.
00:00:32
Speaker 2: You know, you start to actually put it in perspective of all of the other headlines we've been hearing about would-be congressmen and women, people running for office in some of these state races that are so crucial and so critical to the balance of Congress and the balance of power in this midterm election. And so, yes, politics is dirty and And now in the society we're living in where there are photographs of everybody everywhere from 10 years ago, 20 years ago, your posts come back to haunt you, your photos, your messages. And so of all the other crimes that have been committed or alleged, this for me, I feel like it's none of my business.
00:01:15
Speaker 1: You know, you just said things that come back to haunt you. Should it? Right.
00:01:19
Speaker 2: Right.
00:01:20
Speaker 1: Should it? And it's up to the voters. Robes, this is an interesting one in a lot of ways to me. And it is relevant, folks, that we're talking about a Democratic congressional candidate who is now having to answer for pictures that have come out, surfaced of him, Robes, from at least six years ago, in which he is in nothing other way to say it is fetishism. And bondage photos, but they were part of an actual advertisement. It's not like private photos from home or anything.
00:01:51
Speaker 2: Correct. He agreed to be in an ad. I believe he described it as kind of like a favor for a friend almost. But he is modeling a black leather jacket. posture collar complete with a chain and a padlock.
00:02:08
Speaker 1: Do you know what a posture collar i do.
00:02:10
Speaker 2: Not know what a posture collar is but it does seem to have something to do with snm but they're they're calling it an x-rated modeling photo there's nothing x-rated about it that's how they're i've seen headlines saying that you.
00:02:23
Speaker 1: Know who attribute who used that headline oh.
00:02:25
Speaker 2: Yeah a republican leaning um All right. Publication, yes. Okay, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. A conservative-leaning publication, and that is how it's being described by folks who want you to see it through that lens.
00:02:37
Speaker 1: Okay, how do most people see it? Through what lens? If you see someone, generally, what do you say, Robes? Forget this guy for a second. We'll get into who exactly he is. And actually, this is a very important race. But, Robes, generally, what do we... Is this still seen as something on the outskirts, on the fringes?
00:02:55
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:02:55
Speaker 1: The idea of bondage is not normal. Excuse me, I'm using air quotes there, people. But I'm saying most people just don't accept it as something they do.
00:03:04
Speaker 2: I think most people consider it a fetish.
00:03:06
Speaker 1: A fetish.
00:03:07
Speaker 2: Some people might consider it deviant, but I don't think anyone thinks of it as criminal. Or if you choose to do this in your free time, it somehow... bears any weight or is a reflection of how you exist in your professional life.
00:03:23
Speaker 1: Yeah, this is an interesting one to me.
00:03:27
Speaker 2: I don't think we should know.
00:03:29
Speaker 1: We should know, but even if we do, then we then judge and that you're not, what, good enough for office or to hold this position or to teach at a school. Robes, we know some schoolteachers. that posts some stuff that we are pretty amazed by. I'm like, wow, this person's around children. And it's still comfortable putting the stuff out.
00:03:47
Speaker 2: Yes, drinking and partying and all that.
00:03:49
Speaker 1: Kind of thing. It does not say that Christopher Gallant cannot serve in Congress. His name is Christopher Gallant. He's 37 years old, and he's running in New York's 1st District. This is one that Democrats do have an eye on, Robes, because even though they do have an outside shot, they think they got a shot. With Christopher Gallant, who is 37 and robes a good-looking, good-resuméed candidate. And I say good-looking, not just physically good-looking. He looks the part.
00:04:17
Speaker 2: As a politician. He does. He's got a very impressive military resume. He was a Black Hawk pilot, a military pilot. former ATC, he is openly gay. He is not hiding the fact that he is gay. He is a gay Democrat who is running for Congress. And yes, he is in a tight race, correct? He's running against his opponent, Republican Nick LaLotta.
00:04:42
Speaker 1: This is considered a vulnerable district for Republicans, even though, yes, LaLotta does hold the lead by outside the margin of error in the polling I've seen. This is still one that Democrats have been focused on because they believe... Rose, you got a helicopter pilot and a Democrat and he's gay. Yes. In a district where that might matter. We'll explain that a little more if you're not familiar with New York's 1st District. But, Rose, you kind of described the pictures that are out there and I want to make sure we get them, I guess, the best we can here, Rose. But there's a collar around his neck and there's a chain attached to it. That's fair. At least one photo. What else was it? There was the... What's the thing you called he was wearing? Oh, yeah. The X or the hex.
00:05:27
Speaker 2: I don't know. It's like a harness, kind of like a leather harness with studs. But he was playing, that was him kind of dressing up. He was just getting a photo taken.
00:05:37
Speaker 1: And that's why, and then they have another one, Robes, the bartending thing he was doing. And that was at a famous, pretty famous event in this area, actually, called the Invasions of the Pines, where essentially what it is is a ferry takes, a ferry, an actual boat, a ferry takes... queens from one spot to another to invade the pines on Fire Island.
00:05:59
Speaker 2: Fire Island. This is on the 4th of July. It's an annual celebration and there's a photo of him at a party. There's a bunch of guys in the background you can see and he's just in his underwear, basically.
00:06:10
Speaker 1: Serving as a bartender that night or something he does. Robes, I look at this and I see a gay guy doing I guess some stuff no other gay guys to do. For me at least, Robes, much of what I saw in the pictures because of maybe where we live and what we're exposed to. I wouldn't even stop to look at this photos.
00:06:31
Speaker 2: No, because look, he is, he is a gay man. He has, um, taken photos with friends. He has a right to a private life. Nothing he did in any of those photos, to me, stands out in a way that would make him unfit for office or in any way would make me less likely to vote him. He looks like he likes to have fun. I have no problem with that. I appreciate that. Looks like he knows how to let off steam. Maybe that's a good thing. I mean, that just wouldn't stop me from voting for somebody. And look, when you talked about the fact that he yes, was this military pilot. He's also a volunteer firefighter. As we mentioned, he worked as an air traffic controller, so he's good under pressure. He's brave in that he will go into a running... I mean, he'll run into a burning building to save your life. He knows how to operate a Blackhawk helicopter. He's been in the Army National Guard since 2006. I mean, look, he has all of the attributes you would want, I would imagine, in a public servant. And so the fact that he's gay and likes to take his shirt off and has a little fun in the bedroom that maybe we don't understand, I don't see how that... Has anything to do with his ability to serve.
00:07:44
Speaker 1: And again, we talk about, you said in the bedroom, Rose, none of these, they're not even allegations. None of this stuff they're trying to expose or talk about with him has anything to do with him. Any relationship he's been in or out of or any impropriety.
00:07:58
Speaker 2: Correct. Nothing at all. And that's so important.
00:08:00
Speaker 1: They're just putting up a picture and say, look at this guy. He has a leather collar around his neck with a chain. You wouldn't do that, would you? This guy's unfit. They're suggesting that anything outside of your norm is also unfit.
00:08:14
Speaker 2: Correct.
00:08:15
Speaker 1: That's a problem.
00:08:16
Speaker 2: I did like Gallant's lawyer statement, though. I thought they did a very good job. at dealing with these headlines. It reads, the photographs are authentic.
00:08:25
Speaker 1: Great way to start. Great way to start, baby. Yep.
00:08:29
Speaker 2: Yep. We stand by them. 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. Chris was also friends with the owner of Mr. S.
00:08:44
Speaker 1: Leather.
00:08:44
Speaker 2: 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. That limited understanding was never intended to authorize unrestricted publication, distribution, or use by third parties.
00:09:00
Speaker 1: That kind of explains it. Robes, again, there's no allegation of any wrongdoing.
00:09:05
Speaker 2: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. And then in terms of the other photos showing him in his underwear bartending at that Fire Island Invasion of the Pines event, they said this venue regularly hosted themed and promotional events, and the image depicts Chris working during one such event. It reflects nothing more than the setting and circumstances of his employment. Presenting these images without their full context appears calculated to invite false and misleading assumptions about Chris's private life. 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. Well done.
00:09:46
Speaker 1: They actually made a point there that I don't think we hit on strongly enough. The pictures were not of him actually in his private life at his home. These were all associated with doing a favor for a friend. doing a shoot for business and getting paid at a particular event yeah i mean this isn't even necessarily him and his pride look what he does at home Yes. No, some friends ask them to do a favor. Sounds like a good friend.
00:10:11
Speaker 2: Yeah, I appreciated how unapologetic it was, how matter of fact it was, how transparent it was.
00:10:18
Speaker 1: This is me.
00:10:18
Speaker 2: And how it points to the fact that these were not meant for public distribution. And frankly, I don't need to see, like, I don't want to see a congressman or woman out with their friends drinking. Like, I just, I don't need to see what people are entitled to a private life, even when you are a public figure. And if you're not being accused of doing something criminal... or doing anything that causes harm to anyone else, it is none of our business.
00:10:43
Speaker 1: This is just meant to try to embarrass in some way. You said, Robes, I don't want to see. The next question for somebody, if it's a legitimate one, do you need to see?
00:10:52
Speaker 2: No.
00:10:53
Speaker 1: Right? Do I need to know that my congressman is accused of sexual assault?
00:10:58
Speaker 2: Yes. Yes.
00:10:59
Speaker 1: Do I need to know?
00:11:01
Speaker 2: That my congressman likes to suck women's toes? No, I don't.
00:11:05
Speaker 1: Or that six years ago he bartended with his shirt off?
00:11:10
Speaker 2: No.
00:11:10
Speaker 1: Not really. I don't. Ropes, in these pictures, first of all, can you explain? You can explain better than I can. This district, the first district, includes a big chunk of Long Island that includes Fire Island.
00:11:23
Speaker 2: Yes. Fire Island is a, look, families go there. I've been there a couple of times myself, but it is a known gay escape. This is an island that's very welcoming to the LGBTQ plus community. It has been for decades, perhaps even at a time when it wasn't in other areas. So it's been an oasis, a haven, so to speak. And obviously we have a lot of gay friends here living in New York City, and it is a mecca for many of them in the summer. And Fourth of July specifically, but there are events and themes tied to some of these. There are several different ferry ports you can enter on Fire Island. It's gorgeous out there, by the way.
00:12:04
Speaker 1: It's not quite. stonewall in historical but yes it's but it's that type of relevant in this area robes where folks didn't have a place to go they found a vacation haven they found a playground and this is a very famous place i think most people in the country might not get that part of it but robes i wondered when i saw a district is this really going to hurt him that much it's just going to help.
00:12:28
Speaker 2: Him right i mean that's true now you do have um and i some folks who have some religious like beliefs and that could play into it as well. You never know. Long Island is a very, very diverse island.
00:12:41
Speaker 1: It's a strong Republican hold, at least this Republican area.
00:12:44
Speaker 2: You have a lot of Italian Catholics, a lot of different demographics there. And look, the firefighters, that blue collar guy thing, I don't know how this might read for them, but he's also a firefighter. He's also a military guy. So he has a lot of the same attributes that many of his constituents or potential constituents.
00:13:04
Speaker 1: And I wondered if it would backfire as a way that you're trying to take down otherwise from everything a decent dude. Like even if you disagree with politics, this seems there's a meanness to it that I wonder if people are going to push back.
00:13:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, because he does on his resume seem like a man of service.
00:13:23
Speaker 1: Again, we haven't talked anything about his politics. Don't know his politics and don't care. This isn't what this is about, baby. I would defend anybody, a republic. It doesn't matter.
00:13:31
Speaker 2: It's about an unfair character assassination that's unwarranted.
00:13:35
Speaker 1: That's true. Well, we let you hear, and you love the response, Rose, from his attorney. I loved the Democratic Committee's response in Suffolk County, where this district is. It is a damn doozy. Well done. We'll let you hear it. Stay here.
00:14:01
Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone to Amy and TJ. Yes, we let you hear Chris Gallant's attorney's response, but Suffolk County Democratic Committee, they did, uh, another really stellar job in responding to these photos that had been leaked. Um, they, they started out, this is Chris Gallant, guardsman, firefighter, air traffic controller, union leader, and Suffolk County's next Democratic congressman. Whatever Republican political hack thought sending old pictures of him to the New York Post actually exposed three things. Number one, Nick LaLotta is scared of Chris Gallant because while Chris is talking about affordability and health care, most of Nick LaLotta's posts are about pizza.
00:14:49
Speaker 1: Well done.
00:14:49
Speaker 2: Well done. Number two, there is now documented proof that Chris Gallant has a six-pack.
00:14:56
Speaker 1: For the win. For the win.
00:14:59
Speaker 2: Number three, how little they think of Suffolk County voters.
00:15:02
Speaker 1: Good point. Bring it back home.
00:15:04
Speaker 2: The Suffolk County Democratic Committee is proud to fight for Chris Gallant.
00:15:08
Speaker 1: What do you do, baby?
00:15:10
Speaker 2: It was a great comeback. Look, they made one little jab about Nick LaLotta liking pizza. They didn't get mean.
00:15:16
Speaker 1: That wasn't even mean.
00:15:17
Speaker 2: They didn't get mean. They didn't fire back at him and try to throw him under the bus and deflect and defend. No, they stood by their guy. They touted what they believe about him and about what he stands for. And they just did a kind of a silly little fun poke at the opponent. But they didn't get mean. They didn't go low.
00:15:35
Speaker 1: I'm with you, baby.
00:15:36
Speaker 2: And I actually thought that was a brilliant strategy.
00:15:39
Speaker 1: Documented proof he has a six-pack. That's all this proved. That's all this proved. Moving on.
00:15:45
Speaker 2: I wonder, I wonder if this will backfire for the Republicans. I don't know. They may know their audience well. They absolutely know who they're speaking to. And certainly there is a group of folks who would not look kindly at that and think, I don't want a guy who has a leather collar around his neck being led by a chain leading this constituency or representing this area. But I still think most people are really capable of separating the two.
00:16:14
Speaker 1: That's a thing. They're not giving voters, knock yourselves out, make the call. Let's vote on policy, please.
00:16:18
Speaker 2: Let's vote on policy. Let's not vote on pretend politics. indecency because it's not, but I guess that's, they're trying to put this or look at, have folks look at this through a lens of immorality. Even, I don't even know what they're saying.
00:16:34
Speaker 1: Yes. And for all those that look at the pictures and want to immediately criticize, stop and think about your bedroom practices. And if people knew about some of the stuff you do on your off time and how you dress up and about that maid's outfit, that's still in the back of your closet, And about that video you're hoping still never gets out. Really, I mean, just, none of it's deviant, none of it's wrong. I'm just saying it's private. And just, we shouldn't judge this guy.
00:17:01
Speaker 2: Because he dressed up in robes.
00:17:03
Speaker 1: I dressed up as... As Tyler Perry's character.
00:17:07
Speaker 2: Oh, I was waiting. I was like, what did you do? Oh, that was for Halloween. Yeah, you were.
00:17:10
Speaker 1: What was that?
00:17:11
Speaker 2: Oh, it was for Halloween. I was the.
00:17:13
Speaker 1: Madea.
00:17:13
Speaker 2: And you were Madea.
00:17:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, Rose. Out of context, I was running for Congress. Somebody just put that picture up. Is this what you want? A cross-dressing... That is a funny picture.
00:17:25
Speaker 2: We should put that up.
00:17:26
Speaker 1: We shouldn't. But we appreciate you as always, folks, for spending a little time. Wanted to get this one on your radar. It will get more and more attention. Remember, New York's first district now. Democrats certainly think it's in play. And yes, the next congressman from that district might be a guy who once bartended in his underwear. And with that, we always appreciate you spending time with us. I'm TJ. That's Robes. Talk soon.