Democratic congressional candidate Chris Gallant is facing renewed attention over explicit modeling photos from his past, including images connected to a San Francisco leather and fetish retailer.

Chris Gallant, 37, the Democratic nominee challenging New York Rep. Nick LaLota, previously appeared in promotional photographs for Mr. S Leather, a San Francisco-based retailer specializing in leather and BDSM products, according to images obtained by the New York Post.

The photographs, some of which date back more than a decade, reportedly remained accessible through internet archives years after they were originally published.

Attorney Says Photos Came From Private Relationship
Gallant’s attorney, Sara Azari, said the photographs were taken during a private and consensual photo session involving Gallant and his then-partner, with whom he was in a long-term relationship.

According to Azari, Gallant was also friends with the owner of Mr. S Leather and agreed that selected photographs could be used in connection with certain products.

She said Gallant later asked the company to remove the images as he began considering a future in public service.

“Mr. S honored his request,” Azari said, according to the Post.

Some of the photographs subsequently appeared on other websites that did not appear to be affiliated with Mr. S Leather. Azari said Gallant’s original agreement did not authorize unrestricted publication of the images by third parties.

Gallant’s Military and Public-Service Background
The controversy comes as Gallant campaigns for a seat in Congress while presenting himself as a public servant with a lengthy professional background.

According to his campaign materials and professional profiles, Gallant has served in the Army National Guard since 2006 and is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot.

He has also worked as an FAA air traffic controller and previously held a union leadership position with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

Gallant is also a volunteer firefighter.

His military service means some of the period covered by the archived photographs overlapped with his time in the National Guard.

Attorney Says Past Should Not Define Candidate
Azari strongly rejected the idea that Gallant’s past modeling work should be used to judge his ability to serve in Congress.

She argued that the photographs came from an earlier period of his life and said they had no bearing on his qualifications, judgment or record of public service.

Gallant’s campaign is focused on his race against incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in New York’s 1st Congressional District.

The district is considered strongly Republican by the Cook Political Report, making Gallant’s challenge a difficult one.

For now, the resurfaced photographs have added an unexpected personal controversy to a congressional campaign, while Gallant’s attorney maintains that his past private life should not overshadow the issues and qualifications voters will consider.

Course: NY Post