A Richmond Circuit Court judge has ruled that Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Chief of Staff Bonnie Krenz-Schnurman must provide more details in her lawsuit against political operative Ben Tribbett if she wants it to move forward.
Krenz-Schnurman is suing Tribbett for spreading false rumors that the father of her child is a Virginia elected official, not her husband.
The judge essentially dismissed the lawsuit, while giving Krenz-Schnurman 21 days to file additional information to continue the process — including the exact words Tribbett said to defame her, who he said it to, who informed Krenz-Schnurman and when the statements were made.
In the original lawsuit filed by Krenz-Schnurman, she does not name anyone specifically, but states Tribbett spread the rumor to “legislators, consultants, and influential leaders in the Commonwealth.”
In a motion filed by Tribbett’s attorney recently, he requested Krenz-Schnurman reveal several details about the alleged rumors and how she found out about it.
Krenz-Schnurman appears ready to move forward with the judge’s request.
“We are currently preparing an amended complaint and look forward to proceeding with discovery immediately,” said Daniel Watkins, Krenz-Schnurman’s attorney. “Lies have consequences, and it’s time for Mr. Tribbett to be held accountable for what he’s done.”
The original filing detailed the rumors that Krenz-Schnurman alleges Tribbett spread.
“Defendant Ben Tribbett has told elected officials, consultants, and senior political leaders across Virginia that Plaintiff — chief of staff to Governor Spanberger — engaged in an extramarital affair with a sitting state delegate who supported a competing congressional redistricting proposal, became pregnant by him, and is passing that child off as her husband’s,” it states.
The original filing also said that the accusation is completely false.
“The paternity allegation Defendant is circulating is scientifically impossible and Plaintiff can provide DNA and genetic testing to remove any doubt regarding these facts,” the filing states. “Plaintiff has never had a romantic or sexual relationship with the delegate Defendant identifies.”
The lawsuit also alleged Tribbett is spreading the rumors after the maps he helped create were not used for the redistricting referendum that was eventually overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court.
“At the outset of Governor Abigail Spanberger’s term-following her decisive statewide election, Virginia Democrats were engaged in a consequential debate over congressional redistricting,” the filing states. “Multiple approaches were advanced within the party. Defendant supported one strategy. A different proposal allegedly supported by the state delegate Defendant now falsely claims is the father of Plaintiff’s child, ultimately advanced.”
Tribbett declined to comment for this story.