Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien is a Derry Republican and a former NH state representative running in Tuesday’s midterm. And she has a message for her fellow Republican–and longtime acquaintance–Rep. Frank Sapareto:
“He needs to drop out now.”
Prudhomme-O’Brien is responding to recent revelations that Rep. Sapareto funded and appeared in a porn project; is being sued for assault by his video production partner; and continues to claim that video showing Saparto engaged in sexual conduct with an adult film actress has been “doctored.”
“As much as I hate to say it, losing the seat is better than losing our credibility,” Prudhomme-O’Brien told NHJournal.
“The people of Derry and of New Hampshire deserve leaders they can be proud of, leaders who put their concerns ahead of their own base desires. I’m disappointed by by the boldfaced lies that Frank has been telling about the situation he is now in. Yes, pornography is legal but it’s also a business that exploits women and abuse victims and perpetuates insulting ideas about what a normal sexual relationship is. A pubic servant with the best interests of his people at heart should have no interest in being involved in it. For this reason and for his dishonesty, I no longer support Frank’s candidacy for state representative from Derry,” she said.
Prudhomme-O’Brien is angry that Sapareto is putting the Derry GOP and the state party in this position by remaining in the race. “I wish Frank had chosen not to run again back in July when he knew he had this over his head. He should have been more courageous and done the right thing,” she said.
Videos and emails published by NHJournal show both Sapareto’s on-camera participation in the film, emails discussing adult actresses and potential film titles (they settled on “Creampie Apocalypse”), and emergency room records showing his video partner and alleged victim suffered a concussion.
Rep. Frank Sapareto with an adult film actress in a scene from “Creampie Apocalypse”
Prudhomme-O’Brien said she spoke to Sapareto at a GOP meeting last week after the story of his involvement in a porn project went public, and he denied any involvement. After hearing his denials and seeing video posted by NHJournal, she told the Derry GOP Town Committee not to use any campaign materials or signs that had both her name and Sapareto’s names on them. The committee eventually decided not to use marketing materials they’d already had made at all, rather than promote Rep. Sapareto.
“Nobody is going to be holding signs for Frank on Tuesday,” she said.
Prudhomme-O’Brien is the first, and thus far only, New Hampshire Republican to call on Rep. Sapareto to drop out of the race. It’s not an unfamiliar feeling, she says. “It’s like the ‘stolen valor’ story with Jim Foley. I called on him to step down. Not many other Republicans did,” she said. “But that wasn’t as hard because it was before the primary, so we [Republicans] could still hold onto the seat.”
And the other Republicans in that 2014 state senate primary? Current state senator Regina Birdsell….and Rep. Frank Sapareto.
“I’ve been trying to give Frank the benefit of the doubt, even when he had his previous assault charge. He told a story then about protecting his girlfriend from her teenage son. But now, with all this? He keeps saying that the video is photoshopped but I’ve seen it,” Prudhomme-O’Brien said.
“That’s obviously not true.”
