Man whose sentence was commuted by Trump named in child abuse lawsuit: report

A man whose bribery scheme prison sentence was commuted by former President Donald Trump is named in a federal lawsuit that contends widespread child sexual abuse was covered up at his now-closed juvenile behavioral facility, according to court records and reports.

Ted Suhl is now being sued over his position at the Lord's Ranch, where eight anonymous plaintiffs say they were raped and physically abused by a senior staffer, the Arkansas Times reports.

The Arkansas Times was unable to reach the staffer for comment and did not receive a response to a request sent to the Lord’s Ranch attorney. The 53-page complaint contends, in graphic detail, that the children suffered violent abuse and rape.

Suhl was found guilty in 2016 of charges linked to $20,000 in cash bribes to a state health official and sentenced to seven years in prison, according to the Associated Press. Trump commuted Suhl's in 2019 with support from then Gov. Mike Huckabee.

At the ranch, Suhl served as a "behavioral health services mogul," the complaint contends.

"Leadership at Lord’s Ranch either feigned concern while taking no action and allowing the abuse to continue or threatened the victims with reprisals should they report the abuse further,” the complaint states.

A new law passed in 2021 extends the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases, giving those who say they were victimized at Lord's Ranch a two-year window to pursue civil action. All of those who faced abuse must file their complaints by Jan. 2024.

Read the full report in the Arkansas Times.

Victims of abuse can find resources for help here.