Disclaimer: Some of the details in the article are graphic, and some readers may find them disturbing.
Austin Haynes, a former WV House of Delegate from Fayette County, has officially been sued by a woman out of Raleigh County. Back in October, in an interview with Lootpress, Beckley Attorney Steve New announced that a woman had retained him regarding charges of sexual harassment on the part of Delegate Austin Haynes of Fayette County, and New is investigating other allegations from other women.
According to a lawsuit filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court, the plaintiff, Jane Doe, who Steven New represents in Beckley, is suing Austin Haynes and The West Virginia Legislature.
The lawsuit claims that on or around January 2021, a Raleigh County woman was an unpaid lobbyist advocating for bill passage of Native American tribal recognition. Delegate Haynes allegedly started messaging the woman about the bill, and they exchanged numbers. Haynes said he would introduce the bill but never did during the 2020 legislative session.
During the 2021 legislative session, Haynes started messaging the defendant about the bill and told her that he had sent the bill to a writing committee. In January 2021, Haynes asked the defendant if she had a boyfriend, and the messages became inappropriate. Haynes allegedly asked the defendant if she had any sex toys or masturbated. The defendant redirected the conversation back to the bill.
In the text messages provided in the lawsuit, Haynes is seen telling the woman that he masturbated while looking at her photo and asking if she was upset about it:
Haynes: “Remind me to tell you something later.”
Accuser: “Is it bad? It must be. Why tell me later? Why not tell me now?”
Haynes: “It’s not bad. Just something I did last night. You might think it’s bad. Not sure”
Accuser: “?”
Haynes: “What”
Accuser: “Bad or not bad?”
Haynes: “I jacked off to one of your pics. So you tell me… was it bad or not? Well, I guess it was bad.”
Accuser: …” Did you really do that?”
Haynes: “Yes. Is that a bad thing?”
Accuser: “Idk, I wasn’t there.”
Haynes: “Does it bother you?”
Accuser: “I don’t have an opinion one way or the other.”
Haynes: “What if I am doing it right now?
Accuser: “It’s your prerogative.”
Haynes: “Would you rather not talk about it? Do you ever masturbate?”
The allegations of offering support for a bill in exchange for sex arise from the following text message:
Haynes: “I think she wants me to f**k her for her support on the bill
Accuser: “That is stupid of her, then.”
Haynes: “Why”
Accuser: “Shouldn’t be quid pro quo.”
Haynes: “Happens all the time.”
Accuser: “I couldn’t deal with it.”
Haynes: “Would u f**k someone for them to support your bill if it was very important to u?”
Accuser: “Nope”
Haynes: “I want to apologize for last night. I had a little too much to drink. But anyway, I am planning to have a meeting about the bill either tomorrow or Wednesday. Also, I wasn’t insinuating that you sleep around to get a bill passed. I was just telling you what happens in Charleston sometimes….”
In March of 2021, Haynes sent the plaintiff a picture of his penis. He also stated to the defendant that he “got laid two nights ago by another delegate…she was screaming for more, laying on my desk at the capitol.” The plaintiff responded with “TMI LOL,” while Haynes then responded the woman had an intense orgasm “all over me.”
The plaintiff told Haynes she wanted to keep the conversations strictly professional on numerous occasions; however, Haynes still sent her inappropriate messages.
The lawsuit alleges that Haynes violated the West Virginia Computer Crime and Abuse Act and the West Virginia Human Rights Act. She says Haynes and his actions caused her severe emotional distress.
The defendant seeks compensatory damages, dames for embarrassment, humiliation, etc., all attorney’s fees and costs, and pre-judgment and post-judgment interest. The plaintiff demands a trial by jury.
West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw told Lootpress: “What former Delegate Haynes is accused of doing is reprehensible in every way. This complaint, however, is neither appropriate nor is it accurate. The joinder of the Legislature attempted with this complaint is frivolous. I want any victims of these alleged crimes to see justice, but it will never be served in the manner sought by the filing of this complaint.”
Austin Haynes lost his seat last November when he was running for re-election.