Watch intense video of Baptist minister running for Congress and churchgoer accusing him: Witnesses speak out over touching incident at legendary honky-tonk… as it fractures Southern voters in election where Democrat stronghold turned deep red
Republican activist Abby Crosby accused Louisiana state Senator Rick Edmonds of grabbing her hips at a 2023 political event, confronting him about it at a party meeting last month. Edmonds denied the allegation, calling it fabricated; the dispute has become part of a closely watched Republican contest for a newly redrawn congressional seat.
Crosby says Edmonds approached her from behind at a Jeff Landry campaign event at Baton Rouge’s Texas Club on 9 August 2023, grabbed her hips and whispered a comment about her pink dress. Her husband said he did not see the contact but saw Edmonds walking away and Crosby looking stunned; Edmonds says his wife was beside him throughout an event attended by more than 1,000 people. The seat is expected to favour Republicans after Louisiana redrew its map, and both Edmonds and rival Blake Miguez are seeking Donald Trump’s endorsement.
- Abby Crosby accused Rick Edmonds of unwanted touching at a 2023 event.
- Edmonds denies the allegation and calls it fabricated.
- The dispute has entered a high-stakes Republican congressional race.
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A dispute over a physical contact incident at a Louisiana political event in 2023 has become a flashpoint in a closely watched Republican congressional race. Republican activist Abby Crosby says state Senator Rick Edmonds grabbed her hips from behind at a campaign event in August 2023 at the Texas Club, a honky-tonk venue in Baton Rouge, and whispered a comment about her pink dress. Crosby confronted Edmonds about the incident at a party meeting last month, prompting him to deny the allegation and call it fabricated.
The incident matters because Edmonds is running for Congress in a newly redrawn Louisiana district expected to favour Republicans. Both Edmonds and his rival Blake Miguez are competing for the Republican nomination, with each seeking an endorsement from Donald Trump, making this a high-profile race. The allegation has become part of the closely watched contest.
The two sides present very different accounts of what happened. Crosby's husband said he saw Edmonds walking away from his wife and noticed her looking stunned, but did not directly witness any physical contact. Edmonds maintains his wife was beside him throughout the event, which was attended by more than 1,000 people, and insists the allegation cannot have occurred as described.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Crosby has provided specific details about unwanted physical contact and came forward despite political sensitivity. Her husband observed Edmonds approaching and Crosby appearing shocked afterwards, corroborating her account of distress. Unwanted touching speaks directly to a politician's character and treatment of women, making it relevant to voters' assessment of fitness for office, regardless of timing of disclosure.
The case against
The allegation lacks corroborating witnesses despite occurring at an event with over 1,000 attendees. It emerged a year later during a competitive campaign, raising legitimate questions about timing and motivation. The accuser's husband did not witness the alleged contact itself. Without stronger independent verification, voters should be cautious about basing electoral decisions on unverified allegations, which are easily weaponised in political campaigns.