MADISON, WI – A gay Republican who last month claimed that he was assaulted in an attack motivated by his personal politics has recanted his story. As we reported last week (Florida Agenda, October 31, 2012: “Gay Republican Claims Assault Was Motivated by Politics”), Kyle Wood, a volunteer for a GOP congressional campaign, told the Madison Police Department (MPD) that “a guy wrapped a ligature around my neck, slammed my head into the doorway, and smashed my face into a mirror, telling me ‘You should have kept your [f*******] mouth shut.’”

But Wood, 29, has recanted his story, according to an official Incident Report filed by investigators. “In an interview this afternoon with Madison Police detectives, the victim in this case recanted his earlier statements in regards to this crime,” the police report reads. “This crime, alleged to have occurred on High Street in the South Police District, will be cleared as ‘Unfounded’ for case reporting purposes.”

Wood also told authorities that in a separate incident his car had been vandalized, with graffiti that “included the phrases ‘house-trained Republican faggot,’ ‘traitor,’ and ‘ur like a jew 4 hitler [sic].’”

After his alleged assault, Wood posted to Facebook, “I will not be bullied into voting for a gay man simply because I am gay.” And Jimmy LaSalvia, the gay conservative activist and founder of GOProud, called the now-debunked attack an example of “hate and vitriol directed towards a gay conservative from gay liberals.”

As to official recourse in the wake of these new facts, the Madison Police incident report notes that, “Once follow up investigation is completed, MPD’s case file will be reviewed with Dane County District Attorney’s Office.”