Nick Carter has officially countersued Shannon Ruth — and another woman, Melissa Schuman — for their accusations that he sexually assaulted them. Per a copy of the countersuit obtained by People, Carter is claiming that the two women are capitalizing on the #MeToo movement in a five-year plan to “defame and vilify” him for fame and money. According to Carter, Schuman’s father coached a “vulnerable and highly impressionable” Ruth, who has autism, in order to inflate his daughter’s claims of Carter raping her in 2017. Furthermore, the singer’s counter-filing claims that the two women’s accusations have cost him over $2.3 million in business losses so far.
In an exclusive statement to Page Six, Ruth’s attorney Mark J. Boskovich responded to Carter’s countersuit by noting, “Why should Nick Carter be believed with his long history of abusing females? A jury will weigh the evidence and decide.” Meanwhile, Carter’s own attorney, Michael Holtz, maintained his client’s innocence to the outlet against what he called “a malicious and long-running conspiracy.” Holtz told Page Six that the women’s allegations were part of a “calculated and concerted disinformation campaign designed to destroy his reputation.”
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With Carter prepared to battle the accusations, Holtz said his client looked forward to “setting out the truth, vindicating himself in court, and putting an end to the smears and attempted shakedowns for good.”
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).