A former assistant prosecutor in Shannon Taylor's Henrico County office has filed a lawsuit against her, alleging she fired him in retaliation after he reported sexual assault and harassment by another prosecutor.
Nicholas Emmons worked as an assistant Commonwealth's attorney from 2022 until he was terminated earlier this month. In a complaint filed in Henrico Circuit Court on or about October 19, 2026, he says he had an on-and-off romantic relationship with colleague Abigail Lanston that later turned aggressive. On August 24, 2026, Lanston allegedly entered his office during the workday, locked the door, blocked him from leaving for about thirty minutes, and touched and kissed him without his consent. She also yanked on his belt until it broke. Emmons says he recorded the incident and called another co-worker to intervene.
On September 2, Emmons reported the incident to Taylor and provided the recording and other evidence. He also said Lanston had threatened to get him fired if he called police. According to the lawsuit, the office treated him as the problem. During the subsequent investigation, he was called a "good looking frat bro" who needed to "tone it down with the women." Investigators asked detailed questions about sex acts and why he did not force his way past Lanston. He was ultimately fired for having had the prior relationship, even though the office had known about it for a long time and had not previously disciplined him.
Emmons is suing Taylor for retaliation under Virginia's whistleblower statute. He wants his job back, back pay, and other relief. He is also suing two former colleagues, identified as Thompson and McCauley and part of a group called the Lunch Bunch, for defamation. They allegedly spread false rumors that he had been caught having sex with an intern in the office and that he put a gun to Lanston's head and raped her at a wedding. Emmons says none of those claims are true. Lanston herself denied the rape allegation in texts and meetings with Taylor, according to the suit. The rumors spread to other lawyers and court staff.
The lawsuit seeks $1.25 million in damages plus attorney fees. It was filed roughly two weeks before the November 2026 election in which Taylor is the Democratic nominee challenging Republican incumbent Rob Wittman in Virginia's 1st Congressional District.
When WTVR asked for comment, the Taylor campaign responded by accusing Wittman of "gutter politics" after nearly twenty years in Washington, rather than addressing the specific allegations in the complaint.
Taylor has previously faced criticism from Wittman over her handling of the Erin Strotman case involving a NICU nurse accused of abusing infants at Henrico Doctors' Hospital. She has also highlighted her record on public safety, including an 86 percent drop in murders in Henrico and a high homicide conviction rate.
This is a civil lawsuit. Taylor will have the opportunity to respond in court. The allegations remain unproven at this stage.
SOURCES:
Taylor campaign statement via WTVR
