Now there's a big controversy over Richard Carrier allegedly sexually harassing some people. Dr. Richard Carrier Has Sued Several Atheists and Their Blogging Networks on Charges of Defamation by Hemant Mehta.
Someone has put his legal complaint online: CarrierLawsuitModi.pdf
He is suing for defamation FreeThoughtBlogs (FTB), PZ Myers, TheOrbit, Stephanie Zvan, Skepticon, Lauren Lane, and Amy Frank-Skiba. He wants $1,050,000 in compensatory damages and $1,050,000 in punitive damages from them.
At FTB, PZ Myers:
Richard Carrier’s blog
Statement on Richard Carrier’s voluntary departure from our network
Also at FTB:
The FtB Ethics Committee on Richard Carrier
At The Orbit, Stephanie Zvan:
Summarizing the Current Allegations Against Richard Carrier - Almost Diamonds
Also there, Greta Christina (not being sued):
Why We Publicize Accusations of Sexual Misconduct - Greta Christina's Blog
Lauren Lane of Skepticon:
Keeping Skepticon Safe: Richard Carrier to be Banned
From that statement,
On Richard Carrier's side:The accusations specifically against Richard Carrier are, sadly, not so surprising to the Skepticon organizers. While he was a featured speaker for many years, we stopped inviting him to speak partly because of his repeated boundary-pushing behavior, including towards someone involved in Skepticon. What has been made clear by the recent discussions is that our attendees’ well being and comfort is put at an unacceptable risk by Carrier’s presence, and so we are officially prohibiting Richard Carrier from attending any future Skepticons.
Regarding the Accusations Made by Amy Frank - Richard Carrier
On the Recent Defamation of My Character - Richard Carrier
Apology & Going Forward - Richard Carrier
The Details of My Defamation Case - Richard Carrier
He quotes Amy Frank-Skiba:
He states in his legal complaintRichard Carrier, the man who sexually harassed me and touched me a year ago [2015–ed.] after speaking at ASU [Arizona State University–ed.] is now an official employee of this organization. Campus Quest [sic–ed.] and the Secular Student Alliance are partners, and fully aware of what transpired last year. I’m not even close to being his only victim, and there are even more victims of other speakers of the SSA.
and52. As a direct and proximate cause of Ms. Frank-Skiba's May 2015 complaint, the Secular Student Alliance were persuaded to remove Dr. Carrier from the organization's Speaker's Bureau, in or around August 2015, eliminating associated promotional, logistical, and financial support. ...
and also53. As a direct and proximate cause of Defendants' false and defamatory statements attached hereto as Exhibits 1-4, on or about June 21, 2016 FreethoughtBlogs.com was persuaded to block Dr. Carrier's access to his blog, and from publishing content.
54. FreethoughBlogs.com proposed to investigate the claims only after the fact, refusing to identify Dr. Carrier's accuser(s), rendering impossible a fair and effective investigation, and ultimately forcing Dr. Carrier to relocate his body of work to a domain of his own, to regain promotional and publishing control from FreethoughtBlogs' interference.
55. After relocating his body of work, FreethoughtBlogs deviated from their customary procedure and removed Dr. Carrier's content without rerouting links to the new domain, severely disrupting access to his work and search engine visibility.
In summary, it looks like he's charging that his accusers are trying to smear him and ruin his career.84. By falsely claiming, without privilege, that Dr. Carrier committed sexual assault and/or sexual harassment, Defendants intended to inflict a vicious, deliberate, and calculated attack on Dr. Carrier's character, reputation, and professional standing, and to turn the academic and skeptic communities against Dr. Carrier, and to cause them to have contempt, scorn, disgust, and hatred for him, and to hold him in the lowest possible regard.
85. Defendants' statements stigmatize Dr. Carrier as guilty of serious criminal offenses involving moral turpitude, allege behavior incompatible with the proper conduct of his business and trade, and injure his professional standing.
He wants a jury trial.