A prominent San Francisco activist now seeking public office is facing an allegation that he groped an acquaintance during a party in 2020.
Manny Yekutiel, the cafe owner behind Manny’s Cafe in the Mission District — a venue that has hosted leading Democrats including Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former First Lady Jill Biden — is confronting the sexual assault accusation while campaigning for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to represent the Castro neighborhood.
Brad Chapin, a city gardener, alleged that Yekutiel approached him at a 2020 house party and grabbed his genitals before making insulting comments about his body, according to claims first reported by the San Francisco Standard.
Chapin said a “sweating” Yekutiel came up to him at the February 2020 gathering and painfully squeezed his genitals “like an animal,” the report said.
“He grabbed me, and I was trying to get away. He wouldn’t let me go,” Chapin told The Standard. “He stuck one of his hands down my pants and grabbed me and was squeezing me and intentionally causing pain.
“It was bizarre. He literally had me by the testicles. It was intentionally sexually demeaning,” Chapin added.
Chapin, who is also involved in progressive political activism, reportedly told friends about the alleged encounter after the party and filed a police report in April. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, he later wore a police-issued recording device while confronting Yekutiel about the allegation.
The confrontation did not yield evidence investigators found useful, the Chronicle reported, with Yekutiel denying the incident and the case ultimately marked “inactive.”
Text messages Chapin sent to friends about the alleged incident were reviewed by the Chronicle and Standard.
Yekutiel, a Los Angeles native, gained fame as an influential Democratic organizer known for hosting political and civic discussions, phone banks, watch parties and other community events at his popular cafe.
The cafe became an essential stop for rising Democrats to help raise money and rally support in the progressive stronghold of San Francisco.
Yekutiel’s bid to represent the Castro neighborhood racked up a long list of endorsements from leading Dems like Sen. Cory Booker, Lt. Gov Eleni Kounalakis, Assemblymembers Matt Haney and Catherine Stefani, and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.
But a handful of those supporters, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Supervisor Myrna Melgar and Rep. Lateefah Simon, rescinded their endorsements after Chapin’s allegation, The Standard reported.
“I take these allegations seriously, and I’ve said directly to the person who made them that he deserves to be heard. But I know what’s true for me: I didn’t do this,” Yekutiel told The Post in a text.
“The police investigated and closed the matter without pursuing it further,” he added.
“I have gone out, I’ve partied, and I’ve been part of the city’s queer nightlife scene, but I’ve always tried to respect people’s boundaries and treat people with respect as best I can,” Yekutiel further stated in a social media video posted Monday afternoon.
He alleged the public accusation was intended to “assassinate” his character.
“What I will say is campaigns can get ugly, and I think that’s part of what’s happening here,” Yekutiel wrote in the text message.
The aspiring pol is running against Gary McCoy, a public health advocate and former top aide to Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Catie Stewart, McCoy’s spokesperson, called any suggestion that his campaign had any role in Chapin coming forward “totally false” and insulting to survivors of sexual assault.
“The truth is that Brad’s bravery in coming forward is remarkable, and Gary stands with him and believes him,” Stewart said.
