Stanley Rosenberg, hubby’s civil suit dropped

A legislative aide who accused the husband of former Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg of repeatedly sexually abusing him has dropped his explosive lawsuit against the one-time Beacon Hill power couple. 

“We're obviously pleased,” attorney Tracy Miner said  on behalf of Rosenberg, 68, and Bryon Hefner, 31. 

The plaintiff, who worked for the House of Representatives and was identified only as “John Doe,” brought the civil action against Rosenberg and his spouse in Suffolk Superior Court in June, claiming Hefner sexually assaulted him —  twice in Rosenberg’s presence and once at their home in the North End. 

Doe’s attorney Mitchell Garabedian told the Herald he filed a notice of voluntary dismissal at his client’s request Wednesday ahead of a previously scheduled hearing on the civil case yesterday afternoon that was subsequently canceled.

“There was not a settlement,” Garabedian said.

“Although the dismissal at the request of the plaintiff leaves many unanswered questions, I cannot provide further comment because of the pending criminal case,” he said.

Doe accused Hefner of assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and Rosenberg of conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. 

Hefner, meanwhile, remains criminally charged by Attorney General Maura Healey for indecent assault and battery, open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior and dissemination of images of a nude or partially nude person in connection with alleged encounters he had with four men, including Doe.

That case is scheduled for a status hearing Monday also in Suffolk Superior Court.

It’s alleged Hefner took photographs of a man’s genitals and buttocks without his knowledge after a night of drinking ended up in a hotel suite, and that Hefner showed the pictures on his cellphone to other people, three of whom claim Hefner went so far as to tell them who the man was. 

Another accuser, while attending a birthday party with his wife, alleged Hefner told him he was “hot” and later “forcibly kissed him on the lips against his will” two weeks before marrying Rosenberg in 2016. 

Hefner is additionally accused of groping a third man under a table at a political event and of exposing himself to a fourth.

Rosenberg retired in May after the scandal cost him his leadership post of three years. The Democrat had served in the Senate since 1991.