Taylor Swift files counterclaim against radio host in groping lawsuit

By Thomas Peipert
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Taylor Swift filed a counterclaim Wednesday against a former Denver radio host who sued her after he said he lost his job because of false accusations that he inappropriately touched her during a photo session.

David Mueller sued Swift in U.S. District Court in Denver in September, saying he was falsely accused by a member of her security team of grabbing the singer’s buttocks backstage at the Pepsi Center on June 2, 2013. Mueller, who denied any inappropriate contact, said he was fired two days later from his job at KYGO radio.

According to Swift’s counter argument, Mueller claims that one of his superiors at the radio station committed the alleged assault. But Swift, 25, accuses Mueller solely.

“Mueller’s newfound claim that he is the ‘wrong guy’ and, therefore, his termination from KYGO was unjustified, is specious,” Swift’s attorneys wrote in the counterclaim. “Ms. Swift knows exactly who committed the assault — it was Mueller.”

Attorneys for Swift say in court filings that the singer was “surprised, upset, offended, and alarmed” when Mueller groped her during the pre-concert meet-and-greet. They added that Mueller did not merely brush his hand against Swift while posing for a photograph, but lifted up her skirt.

An attempt to reach Mueller’s attorney for comment Wednesday night was unsuccessful.

Swift’s publicist, who also could not be reached for comment Wednesday night, released a statement shortly after Mueller sued the singer, saying the radio host’s employer was
given evidence after the incident and made its own decision to fire him.

Swift, who is asking for a jury trial, says any money she might receive involving the lawsuit will be donated to charitable organizations “dedicated to protecting women from similar acts of sexual assault and personal disregard.”