A powerful Republican state lawmaker has been accused of using his position to coerce one of his married employees to have an affair with him, according to a lawsuit.
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore is being sued by Scott Lassiter, who claims Moore used ‘his position’ to entice his now ex-wife into a three-year affair.
Lassiter, a former Apex City councilman, says his wife Jamie, executive director of the North Carolina Conference of Clerks of Superior Court, admitted to the affair.
The lawsuit states that Jamie said she had ‘group sex with other individuals seeking Tim Moore’s political favor’ – but ‘implored’ her husband to allow it to continue so she didn’t lose her job.
Both Jamie and Moore deny the claims, with Lassiter seeking $200,000 in damages for the destruction of his marriage.
The lawsuit states: ‘Moore used his position as one of the most powerful elected officials in North Carolina to entice Plaintiff’s wife, a mid-level employee of the state government, to participate in an illicit relationship with him.’
North Carolina is one of the few states that allow jilted spouses to sue someone for interfering in their marriage.
The cases are known as ‘alienation of affection’ and can be filed in five other states.
Speaking to WRAL, Jamie said: ‘Scott Lassiter has serious mental health and substance abuse issues, which I can only assume led him to file this outrageous and defamatory suit,’ her statement says.
‘The claims are not only false but impossible as we’ve been separated with a signed separation document for years.
‘To be clear, I’m a strong professional woman, and the only person who has ever abused me or threatened my career was my soon to be ex-husband.
‘Our marriage was a nightmare, and since I left him, it has gotten worse. We are reaching the end of our divorce process and this is how he’s lashing out.’
The lawsuit accused Moore – who is divorced – of ‘enticing’ Lassiter’s wife, and persuading her to ‘engage in degrading acts to satisfy his desires’.
Lassiter admitted to spying on his wife and Moore having dinner at a steakhouse in Raleigh on December 21 after she’d told him she was out with a female friend.
When Lassiter confronted her, he claims that she told him about the affair but begged him to allow it to continue.
Five days later, Lassiter says he confronted Moore at a Raleigh restaurant, where he admitted to the affair and then made him an offer.
Moore’s lawyer released a statement after the filing saying they were looking forward to a trial and ‘we are confident that the Speaker will be vindicated.’
The Republican himself added: ‘We will vigorously defend this action and pursue all available legal remedies.’
Legal documents say that the affair between Jamie and Moore continued between 2019 and January 2023.
It also claims that after being confronted by Lassiter, Moore ‘implied’ that ‘he could use the power he held as Speaker in some way to benefit’ him.
Lassiter’s suit says he ‘angrily’ told Moore that he ‘did not want any political favors’.
A second person is listed as a defendant in the suit, though they are not named.
Court filings allege that the unidentified man snuck onto Lassiter’s property install a camera ‘at an angle facing his house.
He believes that this was in a bid to ‘capture photos and video recordings of events inside and outside (Lassiter’s) home.’
Moore, who has served in the state house since 2003 and as Speaker since 2015, has denied the accusations.
Scott Lassiter – who had a failed run for state house of his own in 2022 that ended after redistricting – and Jamie Lassiter officially separated on January 11, 2023, according to the lawsuit.
When asked for comment, Lassiter’s attorney said in a statement that ‘The complaint speaks for itself. There is irrefutable evidence to support Mr. Lassiter’s claims.’
