Democratic NH State Rep. From Concord Charged With Assault

CONCORD, NH — A local state representative has been charged with assault in Concord District Court and is scheduled to be arraigned in late September, according to court documents. The charge was filed against Katherine Rogers, 61, pictured left, of Alton Woods Drive in Concord, on Aug. 7, 2017, by the New Hampshire State Police. According to a complaint, on Nov. 16, 2016, during the recount for the District 7 state Senate seat held at the state archives building, Rogers allegedly struck Susan Olsen, a 2nd Amendment activist and former state Rep. candidate from Warner, “with a semi-closed right hand squarely on (her) left ear.”

Editor’s Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord District Court. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

The alleged assault occurred after both Rogers, representing then-incumbent state Sen. Andrew Hosmer, D-Laconia, and Olsen, representing then-challenger Harold French, R-Franklin, were ballot observers during the recount and were given a chance to challenge or accept ballots shown to them. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Concord NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

“Ms. Rogers challenged many of the first ballots shown to us and, as this was my (first) time serving as a recount observer, I did not understand the bases for her challenges,” Olsen noted in her complaint.

Olsen then requested the ballots be placed “closer,” so she could see them, and that’s when she alleges that Rogers put her hand on her shoulder, “as if to hug me,” reportedly stated she wanted Olsen to be "happy," and then allegedly struck her. Olsen stated that she said to Rogers, “If you strike me again, I will have you arrested.” She alleged that Rogers, a former county attorney, countered, “in a low, mocking, angry whisper,” something to the effect of “Hit me. I know you want to. Go ahead. Hit me.”

Olsen claimed that Rogers was “smirking” while she was speaking and then, reportedly leaned in further, “sounding almost like she was daring me,” and allegedly stated, “I know what you want to do. You want to shoot me.”

Olsen stated she was so stunned by Rogers and her comments that she couldn’t – and didn’t – respond and that she didn’t want the proceedings to be disrupted any longer than they already had been.

After the first batch of ballots were eyed, Olsen stated that Rogers left the table and was replaced by another person.

Olsen said she didn’t report the incident to police at the time to preserve “the integrity of the recount” and for fear that it would be viewed as “a political statement” since Olsen had testified against a number of Rogers’ bills, including gun control proposals. She noted a number of witnesses including state officials and state Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, R-Manchester, who passed away earlier this year. Olsen added that she filed the complaint after the “recent rise of hyperbole and incivility” in the General Court.

“Certainly, words may not hurt me, but I do not believe anyone has the right to put their hands on anyone else without their permission,” she stated.

Rogers is due to be arraigned in Concord District Court on Sept. 29.

French was deemed the winner after the recount by less than 20 votes, according to WMUR-TV. District 7 covers Andover, Belmont, Boscawen, Canterbury, Franklin, Gilford, Laconia, Northfield, Salisbury, and Webster.

Rogers didn't return an email requesting comment about the charge.