{"id":124098,"date":"2018-10-23T12:41:43","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T20:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/?p=124098"},"modified":"2018-10-25T07:56:40","modified_gmt":"2018-10-25T15:56:40","slug":"buzzfeed-news-white-nationalist-richard-spencers-wife-says-in-divorce-filings-that-he-physically-and-emotionally-abused-her","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/?p=124098","title":{"rendered":"Buzzfeed News: White Nationalist Richard Spencer\u2019s Wife Says In Divorce Filings That He Physically And Emotionally Abused Her"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Buzzfeed<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The wife of Richard Spencer, the white nationalist leader, has accused him of being \u201cphysically, emotionally, verbally and financially abusive\u201d throughout their marriage, according to divorce filings in Flathead County District Court in Montana.<\/p>\n

Nina Koupriianova, who married Spencer in August 2010 and has two young children with him, alleges that Spencer physically abused her, including instances where she was \u201cbeing hit, being grabbed, being dragged around by her hair, being held down in a manner causing bruising, and being prevented from calling for help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koupriianova \u2014 who went by Kouprianova in some public interviews and N.K. in the documents \u2014 \u201chas been reluctant to call police or seek an order of protection for fear of further reprisal by\u201d Spencer, her lawyers said in court documents. \u201cMuch of the abuse has occurred in the presence of the parties\u2019 children.\u201d<\/p>\n

The documents said that Spencer\u2019s \u201ccontroversial public life\u201d has led \u201chis entire family to be targets of violence,\u201d and Spencer kept a loaded weapon in his bedroom that was \u201caccessible by children\u201d after he was \u201cassaulted in public\u201d on the day of President Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the risk to his family,\u201d Koupriianova argued in court, \u201c[Spencer] continues to engage in extremely polarizing public speech advocating \u2018peaceful ethnic cleansing\u2019 and a white-only \u2018ethno-state\u2019 which tends to invite passions and violence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMost, if not all, of [Spencer\u2019s] public speaking events result in violence,\u201d the affidavit states…<\/p>\n

The couple has been living separately since July 1, 2017, with Spencer splitting his time between Whitefish, Montana \u2014 where Spencer and Koupriianova live in separate residences \u2014 and the Washington, DC, area.<\/p>\n

Spencer has previously stated he was separated from his Russian-born wife, who also holds Canadian citizenship, as early as Nov. 22, 2016, in a Washington Post profile. He added in that article that his work was taking a \u201ctoll\u201d on their relationship.<\/p>\n

Koupriianova has tried to explain some of Spencer\u2019s positions. When asked by the Observer to explain her husband\u2019s desire to create an ethnostate, she said, \u201cIn my understanding, these comments are about a theoretic future \u2014 a dream \u2014 for people of European descent, per se, not concrete policy suggestions for contemporary United States.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201c\u2018Ethnic cleansing\u2019 is a very heavy, loaded term. There are some recent examples of fairly peaceful separations.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked in the same interview, \u201cDo you think that people of other races should be eradicated in order to achieve the perfect society?\u201d She responded, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the divorce filings, Koupriianova alleged Spencer had increased his \u201calcohol consumption,\u201d which \u201ccontributes to his aggressive and erratic behavior and reduces his impulse control.\u201d Spencer denied this.<\/p>\n

The documents also claim that Spencer was verbally abusive to their children\u2019s babysitter, including in front of their children, where he allegedly called the babysitter a \u201cfucking sub-mediocre human being\u201d and a \u201cfucking moron.\u201d The court filing goes on to claim both children had been adversely impacted by his behavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of the allegations of \u2018abuse\u2019 have anything to do with my children,\u201d Spencer wrote in his own 48-page affidavit.<\/p>\n

Spencer goes on to write that Koupriianova \u201cobviously and litigiously, tries to rope the children into our dispute by saying they were in the room next door or they overheard abusive talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Koupriianova\u2019s 78-page affidavit includes exhibits containing text messages and emails that are meant to corroborate her claims, in addition to photos that supposedly show bruising suffered by Koupriianova. Copies of the court documents provided by the Flathead County clerk are in black and white and are overexposed.<\/p>\n

Koupriianova said that Spencer\u2019s favorite statement to her was, \u201cThe only language women understand is violence.\u201d He also allegedly told her once, \u201cI\u2019m famous, and you are not! I\u2019m important, and you are not!\u201d<\/p>\n

In January 2011, about five months after their civil wedding ceremony and three weeks before their church wedding ceremony, Koupriianova said that Spencer dragged her down the stairs by her \u201clegs, arms and hair\u201d and threw her on a couch, resulting in bruises.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very sick with the stomach flu, could not keep food or water down, and wanted to stay in bed recovering. Mr. Spencer wanted to watch a movie downstairs and did not take \u2018no\u2019 for an answer,\u201d she wrote. \u201cHe dragged me out of bed by my arms, legs, and hair, dragged me down the stairs, and threw me onto the couch. At that point he calmed down and turned on his movie. The incident resulted in bruises.\u201d<\/p>\n

Court documents.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

(2 of 2) There are many misconceptions about destructive personalities, intimate-partner violence, and the difficulties targets of abuse face when attempting to leave. I hope that my experience contributes to demystifying them. \u2728<\/p>\n

— Nina \u2626\ufe0f Byzantina (@NinaByzantina) October 23, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n