New Hampshire

Prep School Sex Assault Survivor to Attend State of the Union With NH Lawmaker

The survivor of a 2014 sex assault case at a prestigious New Hampshire prep school will be attending the State of the Union with a local lawmaker.

Chessy Prout, who was sexually assaulted during a game of sexual conquest at St. Paul's School in Concord, will be attending the president’s address with Democratic New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster.

"Proud to have @Chessy_Prout join me for #SOTU tonight as my guest," Kuster tweeted Tuesday. "Chessy is an amazing advocate for survivors of sexual violence & her presence is a signal that this national movement will continue to grow & succeed. #MeToo #IHavetheRightTo #TimesUp."

Prout was 15 years old when she said she was coerced by the then-18-year-old Owen Labrie to have sex in a secluded room.

Labrie was convicted in August 2015 on three counts of misdemeanor sexual assault, felony illegal use of computer services and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. He was acquitted on three counts of felony sexual assault.

Prosecutors tied the assault to the "Senior Salute," a competition in which seniors at the school sought to have sex with underclassmen. He was sentenced to a year behind bars and probation. Labrie is currently appealing his sentence.

Kuster joined Prout last year for a discussion on how to end sexual violence. She also launched a congressional Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence.

Prout's invitation to President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address comes amid an ongoing national reckoning called the #MeToo movement, which started amid sexual misconduct allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Trump himself was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women while on the campaign trail in 2016.

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