Assault Victim: Charge Against NH State Rep Not A Political Ploy

CONCORD, NH — A woman who claims that a local state representative assaulted her last year during a ballot recount at the state archives building in Concord is speaking out about a lawyer’s claim that her complaint is a political ploy – and she is also calling on the alleged perpetrator of the act to resign. Susan Olsen, a 2nd Amendment advocate from Warner, filed the complaint earlier this year which led to state Rep. Katherine Rogers, D-Concord, being formally charged with simple assault in Concord District Court on Aug. 7, 2017. The alleged assault occurred while Olsen and Rogers were ballot observers in the recount for the District 7 state Senate seat held by Andrew Hosmer, D-Laconia, and challenged by Harold French, R-Franklin, the eventual winner. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Concord NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Olsen claims that Rogers reportedly put her hand on her shoulder after she asked a question about ballots Rogers had rejected and then, allegedly struck her in the ear.

Rogers did not return an email for comment when Patch first reported the charge last week. But Rogers' attorney – William Christie of Shaheen & Gordon – told a few media outlets, including WMUR-TV, that the incident was being made for political purposes and a ploy since she waited so long to file the complaint. He also called the complaint “unfortunate.”

This week, Olsen countered that she waited to file the complaint until the 2017 House session was completed in order for the incident not to be considered political but, instead, a “criminal justice” issue. She said she put together the complaint, had it notarized, met with Concord Police who said it was the New Hampshire State Police’s jurisdiction, and then filed it with Troop D in Concord.

“I believe Mr. Christie, as an experienced attorney, knows full well that in the absence of sufficient evidence, no law enforcement agency would make a frivolous, political criminal charge,” Olsen said in an email. “And I am hopeful Mr. Christie does not believe that the NH State Police would do so.”

Olsen also countered that Christie – who is also legal counsel for the New Hampshire Democratic Party – and Rogers are the ones attempting to make the incident political in an effort to “cover up” her alleged act.

“Their strategy seems to be to use her public position and political clout as a shield,” she said. “Perhaps Ms. Rogers believes she can get away with assault by calling it politics. And because the incident took place during the recount of an important state election, the possibility that an opportunity presented itself to intimidate an election volunteer should not be overlooked, though (that is) outside the scope of my complaint and the jurisdiction of the state police.”

Olsen said the state police took several months to investigate her claim and there were other witnesses of the alleged assault. She noted that she had “no say whatsoever in its outcome,” according to the investigator officer, since the complaint was not a felony. Christie and the state police, Olsen added, could potentially “resolve” the complaint with “no input from me – the victim – and they have no absolutely obligation to inform me of that decision.”

The assault may simply get buried “in the flotsam and jetsam of politics as usual,” she added. Rogers though, a former police prosecutor, “should be ashamed of her behavior and resign, not just because of her violent assault but because she now appears to want to use that political position as a false defense.”

Christie did not respond to an email about the case.

House Speaker Shawn Jasper, R-Hudson, has also not responded for comment about the charge.

Jim Rivers, the director of communications for the House, stated that not unlike previous cases, the Speaker was not going to pass judgment until the complaint has been adjudicated and all the facts presented.

The reaction – or lack of reaction – to the assault charge filed against Rogers, a Democrat, however, is a stark contrast to the reaction of other incidents involving Republican House members this year.

Back in July, when state Rep. Eric Schleien, R-Hudson, was charged with misdemeanor sexual assault and assault – allegedly grabbing a teenage girl during a date – Jasper’s office was quick to issue a press statement saying that he and other members took the charges “very seriously,” called the accusation “very disturbing,” but added that “we need not rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded.”

When former state Rep. Robert Fisher, R-Laconia, came under fire for creating a “men’s rights” Reddit site – when he was a registered Democrat – that featured misogynistic and degrading comments about women – not any allegation of assault – he was soundly criticized and told by party leaders, including Gov. Chris Sununu, R-NH, to resign even though he had not been charged or found guilty of any crime. Fisher later did resign. Democrats – including many women – suggested that Fisher’s controversial and offensive comments about women and his initial refusal to resign was the promotion of “rape culture” in the House. Many of those same women though have remained silent in the wake of the accusation of an assault against Olsen.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party has also not commented on the case.