Richard Spencer’s Wife Said He Physically And Emotionally Abused Her
Richard Spencer Image by YouTube Screenshot
The wife of white nationalist leader Richard Spencer filed for divorce, citing that he was “physically, emotionally, verbally and financially abusive” throughout their marriage, BuzzFeed News reported.
Nina Koupriianova accused Spencer of abusing her, alleging that she was “being hit, being grabbed, being dragged around by her hair, being held down in a manner causing bruising, and being prevented from calling for help,” according to divorce filings in Flathead County District Court in Montana.
They were married in August 2010 and have two young children together, Buzzfeed reported.
Koupriianova “has been reluctant to call police or seek an order of protection for fear of further reprisal by” Spencer, her lawyers said in court documents.
She claims that much of the abuse happened in front of their children, and that Spencer’s actions have made targets of the whole family. Ever since he was assaulted on the day of President Trump’s inauguration, Spencer kept a loaded gun in his bedroom, within reach of the children, according to the documents.
“Most, if not all, of [Spencer’s] public speaking events result in violence,” the affidavit reads.
Spencer is credited with coining the term, “alt-right,” according to NPR. He promoted his white nationalist beliefs around the country, often inciting violence and triggering states of emergency. He’s been kicked off several platforms and banned from entering 26 European countries. He also attended the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017.
Spencer denied the abuse allegations, according to Buzzfeed.
Koupriianova appeared to share her husband’s extreme views, ThinkProgress reported. She publicly defended him and wrote for his white supremacist site Radix Journal.
Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
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