Trump.Dating, a new website that aims to connect heterosexual singles who support President Trump, used the picture of a man convicted of indecent liberties with a child as its primary image on the company’s homepage.
The dating website featured a picture of a happy couple, married conservative activists Jodi and William Barrett Riddleberger, as the first thing website users see when they arrive at the “Trump Dating” site. The two are involved in the Tea Party-aligned political action committee, Conservatives for Guilford County, located in Greensboro, N.C.
But Barrett Riddleberger’s felony history is one that female users may not be looking to find in their search for love.
North Carolina state records indicate in 1995, a then 25-year-old Barrett Riddleberger filmed himself having sex with a 15-year-old girl. He did not serve prison time.
Barrett Riddleberger said he has been married to his wife for 22 years and paid his debt for “something” that happened 25 years ago, though he was convicted 23 years ago.
Aside from Barrett Riddleberger, the dating site featured a photo of retired Gen. Mark Welsh, former Air Force chief of staff, in a line-up of eligible singles. Welsh, 65, is dean at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, and that institution indicated he is not pleased the site is using his picture.
“There is no legal action planned, but it is a frustrating waste of time to correct the fraudulent use of his image and imply any association with them. Dean Welsh has never heard of this website, has no idea who they are, and has no association with them or any other dating site. He considers himself the happiest married man on this planet,” Susan Robertson, director of communications and external affairs for the Bush School, said in an email to the Washington Examiner on Wednesday.
The Trump dating site also only allows “straight men” and “straight women” to participate.
Dating.Trump describes itself as a way of uniting conservatives and Trump supporters in a country where political beliefs play a large role
“We believe that by matching patriotic and political viewpoints as a base foundation of the relationship, it will allow one to focus on what really matters — conversation, commonalities, and if all goes well, courting,” the site’s homepage states. “Being with someone who shares the same core standards is absolutely essential if you’re truly searching for a real, life-changing relationship and we have a feeling that if you’re on this site, that’s exactly what you’re looking for.”
It’s not clear if the Riddlebergers were involved in the creation of the company, though Sean McGrossier was cited as its founder and owner in a recent ad on the Daily Caller. Trump.Dating is connected to Friends Worldwide.
This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to reflect a statement from Welsh’s spokesperson.
