Zia Chishti is suing an ex-employee for $500million after she told a Congressional committee that he

The millionaire founder of Invisalign is suing an ex-staffer for $500m after she told a Congressional hearing about a rape he insists was consensual rough sex. 

Zia Chishti, 50, says Tatiana Spottiswoode, 29, sent him excited texts about their S&M sex sessions, which involved a $510 Hermes riding crop and $550 leather collar from the same brand. 

Ex-Afiniti employee Tatiana Spottiswoode, 29, claims that Chishti, 50, groomed her when she was 21 and then assaulted her after she was hired by the company in 2016, when she was 23.

She told a Congressional committee last year that Chishti told her ‘he should have had sex with me when I was thirteen years old’ – and plotted to get her away from her parents who he was friends with.

But Chishti, the entrepreneur who founded the company behind Invisalign dental braces, is now suing her over the claims, which he says were completely consensual.

His career and reputation lie in ruins after Spottiswoode’s evidence. Chishti’s case is the first time anyone has ever been sued over testimony given to Congress, and is a landmark case. 

The evidence Spottiswoode gave came as the result of a subpoena. Chishti is suing her over what he claims are defamatory remarks made while communicating with lawyers about the case, and on social media afterwards.  

Zia Chishti is suing an ex-employee for $500million after she told a Congressional committee that he 'raped and groomed her' - something he denies and claims was a consensual relationship

Zia Chishti is suing an ex-employee for $500million after she told a Congressional committee that he 'raped and groomed her' - something he denies and claims was a consensual relationship

Zia Chishti is suing an ex-employee for $500million after she told a Congressional committee that he ‘raped and groomed her’ – something he denies and claims was a consensual relationship

Tatiana Spottiswoode says Chishti, 50, groomed her when she was 21 and then assaulted her after she was hired to his firm in 2016

Tatiana Spottiswoode says Chishti, 50, groomed her when she was 21 and then assaulted her after she was hired to his firm in 2016

Tatiana Spottiswoode says Chishti, 50, groomed her when she was 21 and then assaulted her after she was hired to his firm in 2016 

He lost his job as CEO of multibillion-dollar AI start-up Afiniti, which counts Princess Beatrice as an employee, after Spottiswoode made the allegations.

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron resigned from his consultancy role at Afiniti over the claims.  

Chishti, who was once listed among People magazine’s top 50 bachelors, is demanding $500million in compensation for himself and his wife, Sarah Pobereskin, for financial and psychological harm.

His lawsuit states that he and Spottiswoode were ‘in love’ and their ‘consensual’ affair was ‘successfully weaponized’ by her in Congress.

Court documents claim that a ‘defining feature’ of their sexual relationship was the ‘sharing of minor scratch, bite, whip and scratch marks’.

Spottiswoode shared snaps of these injuries, and insisted they were inflicted against her will; Chishti says they were a result of rough sex games she asked him to take part in.  

He claims that it was introduced by Spottiswoode, who used a $510 Hermes riding crop and $550 Hermes leather collar bracelet in the bedroom.

The lawsuit states: ‘This required heightened trust: both that they would not exceed consent, and that the resultant marks would not be misused as an indication of a lack of consent.’

He claims that 'rough sex' was introduced by Spottiswoode, who used a $510 Hermes riding crop and $550 Hermes leather collar bracelet in the bedroom

He claims that 'rough sex' was introduced by Spottiswoode, who used a $510 Hermes riding crop and $550 Hermes leather collar bracelet in the bedroom

He claims that ‘rough sex’ was introduced by Spottiswoode, who used a $510 Hermes riding crop and $550 Hermes leather collar bracelet in the bedroom

Included in the lawsuit is a picture of Chishti and Spottiswoode (pictured second and third from right) on a night out with colleagues where the multi-millionaire claims she 'flirted' with him

Included in the lawsuit is a picture of Chishti and Spottiswoode (pictured second and third from right) on a night out with colleagues where the multi-millionaire claims she 'flirted' with him

Included in the lawsuit is a picture of Chishti and Spottiswoode (pictured second and third from right) on a night out with colleagues where the multi-millionaire claims she ‘flirted’ with him

Both Spottiswoode and her father, James, are named as defendants in the lawsuit, as well as lawyers who have represented the father and daughter: Nancy Erika Smith, Edward Johnson and Michael Zweig.

Chishti claims that Spottiswoode ‘deliberately lied and misled Congress while under oath’ adding that she ‘falsely testified’ that he was a ‘rapist, a pedophile and a potential murderer’.

The lawsuit claims that while they once ‘loved each other’ Spottiswoode ‘lied’ to destroy Chishti’s ‘reputation’ and damage him and his family ’emotionally’ as well as ‘financially’.

He also accuses her of making the claims to ‘advance her personal and financial interests’, claiming that at one point he thought they would get married.

Spottiswoode, now a law student at Columbia University, told Congress last year: ‘I went to his room where he beat me while having sex with me. I told him he was hurting me he said good.

The lawsuit also includes several text exchanges which Chishti claims shows that their encounters were consensual – including one from her which says 'leave something to the imagination' with a winky emoji

The lawsuit also includes several text exchanges which Chishti claims shows that their encounters were consensual – including one from her which says 'leave something to the imagination' with a winky emoji

The lawsuit also includes several text exchanges which Chishti claims shows that their encounters were consensual – including one from her which says ‘leave something to the imagination’ with a winky emoji

Spottiswoode provided photos showing bruises Chishti had left on her neck

Spottiswoode provided photos showing bruises Chishti had left on her neck

The photos were offered to a House Judiciary Committee panel on forced arbitration

The photos were offered to a House Judiciary Committee panel on forced arbitration

Spottiswoode provided photos showing bruises Mr Chishti had left on her neck to the House Judiciary Committee panel

‘I hid in my hotel room until the next day. My body was covered with scratches, cuts and contusions.

‘I had bruises around my neck that looked like I had been strangled, a large bump on my head and a black eye.

‘A nurse at the hospital said that I had the symptoms of a concussion He told me he should have had sex with me when we first met when I was 13 years old.’

The lawsuit also includes several text exchanges which Chishti claims shows that their encounters were consensual – including one from her which says ‘leave something to the imagination’ with a winky emoji.

It continues: ‘This is the same riding crop that Ms. Spottiswoode had encouraged me to use with her as a sexual prop to whip her in Miami, resulting in corresponding marks on her posterior and back.

Both Spottiswoode and her father, James, are named as defendants in the lawsuit, as well as lawyers who have represented the father and daughter: Nancy Erika Smith, Edward Johnsons and Michael Zweig

Both Spottiswoode and her father, James, are named as defendants in the lawsuit, as well as lawyers who have represented the father and daughter: Nancy Erika Smith, Edward Johnsons and Michael Zweig

Both Spottiswoode and her father, James, are named as defendants in the lawsuit, as well as lawyers who have represented the father and daughter: Nancy Erika Smith, Edward Johnsons and Michael Zweig

Princess Beatrice faced calls to quit her role scandal-hit Afiniti software company Chishti was accused of rape and other sexual harassment allegations

Princess Beatrice faced calls to quit her role scandal-hit Afiniti software company Chishti was accused of rape and other sexual harassment allegations

Princess Beatrice faced calls to quit her role scandal-hit Afiniti software company Chishti was accused of rape and other sexual harassment allegations

‘Ms. Spottiswoode was explicit in this planning that she was keen that our encounter would be sexual, writing that she was “looking forward… to being seduced and slowly undressed”.’

At the time of the Congress hearing, Spottiswoode said she was ‘scared’ of the consequences following her speaking out.

She went on to describe a toxic work environment, saying he ‘oscillated between pressurizing me for sex and punishing me’.

‘During a work meeting in Dubai, he put his hands under my pants and grabbed my butt in front of co-workers,’ she said.

Spottiswoode went on to describe another work trip to Brazil, saying: ‘I avoided him as much as I could, but was under increasing pressure from him.

‘I began to worry that, in addition to wanting sex, Chishti wanted to hurt me and punish me for rejecting him.’

He also accuses her of making the claims to 'advance her personal and financial interests', claiming that at one point he thought they would get married

He also accuses her of making the claims to 'advance her personal and financial interests', claiming that at one point he thought they would get married

He also accuses her of making the claims to ‘advance her personal and financial interests’, claiming that at one point he thought they would get married

The lawsuit claims that while they once 'loved each other' Spottiswoode 'lied' to destroy Chishti's 'reputation'

The lawsuit claims that while they once 'loved each other' Spottiswoode 'lied' to destroy Chishti's 'reputation'

The lawsuit claims that while they once ‘loved each other’ Spottiswoode ‘lied’ to destroy Chishti’s ‘reputation’

The hearing was part of a legislative push for a bill designed to stop companies from mandating arbitration in sexual misconduct complaints.

Spottiswoode had been obliged to sign one, but since then the bill has passed with bipartisan support and became law in March.

Chishti told Politico that he has ‘nothing to lose’ after he was forced to leave his job and doesn’t have ‘any reasonable career prospects going forward’.

Nancy Erika Smith, the attorney who represented Spottiswoode ahead of her testimony, and is named in the suit added that Spottiswoode already prevailed in the mandatory arbitration required by Afiniti.

She said: ‘In our opinion, the law is clear that testimony before Congress is privileged.

‘We will respond with motions to dismiss this frivolous and harassing suit on numerous bases — not the least of which is that these claims have already been decided against Chishti in his chosen forum: forced arbitration.’

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