SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The San Francisco Democratic Party met Sunday night to discuss its past endorsement of Manny Yekutiel.
Yekutiel dropped out of the race for District Eight Supervisor after three men made sexual assault allegations against him. Party Chair Nancy Tung used part of her time during the meeting to address the first victim to come forward, Brad Chapin.
“I have apologized to him both publicly and privately,” said Tung.
Chapin made sexual assault allegations against Many Yekutiel in July, but the San Francisco Democratic Party still endorsed Yekutiel for District 8 Supervisor. Chapin says the conversations he’s had with Tung will remain between them, but that moving forward he is working on forgiveness.
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Manny Yekutiel invites in an attendee before US Presidential candidate Tom Steyer's appearance at Manny's in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
“I am going to do everything I can to work with her to make things different, both within the party but hopefully with her influence to make things happen outside of the party,” said Chapin.
Tung says she will stay on as chair, despite calls for her resignation, and addressed the first sexual assault made against Yekutiel. Claims that Chapin says have been downplayed as groping.
“That was never what happened,” said Chapin. “It was a violent assault.”
“As a way to help uplift his comments, I want to underscore that what happened to Brad was something that was a violent act,” said Tung.
Earlier this month, the San Francisco Standard reported two new allegations against Yekutiel. A couple accused him of sexually assaulting them at a pride party in 2023. Less than 24 hours after their interview went public, Yekutiel ended his campaign for supervisor.
“Until they did that, being the only person who came forward was torture,” said Chapin.
Yekutiel has denied the allegations against him, while also apologizing for any boundaries he’s crossed.
The San Francisco Democratic Party voted Sunday on a new endorsement, backing Gary McCoy for District 8 Supervisor. The district includes the city’s Castro and Noe Valley neighborhoods.
