Second woman sues former Senator Doug Ghee for sexual assault

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WBRC) – A second woman is suing former Gadsden state senator and attorney Doug Ghee and his law firm, claiming he sexually abused her.

This came after Ghee surrendered his law license this week, according to documents from the Alabama State Bar's Disciplinary Committee.

In a new lawsuit filed this week in Calhoun County, the woman who was Ghee's client in a custody and divorce case claims that Ghee promised her he would get her what she wanted in the divorce if she complied with his demands for sex.

The woman claims the assaults began in October 2022, when Ghee asked her during a one-on-one conversation if she was “good at keeping her mouth shut.” At the end of the conversation, he blocked her exit from the room and began kissing and groping her.

The former client claims that Ghee was initially able to obtain the custody agreement she sought without her ever setting foot in the courtroom. However, she then says that Ghee invited her to his office eight to nine times over the next few months to “discuss the case.” However, each time the meetings were not about her case and the meetings ended in a sexual assault.

The woman claims that Ghee “told the plaintiff that she was allowing these sexual assaults and other conduct to occur for the benefit of her minor child. Although Doug continually reminded the plaintiff that these acts and conduct were for the benefit of the plaintiff and her minor child, Doug failed to actually investigate the plaintiff's case or prepare the plaintiff for said case.”

The former client said she ultimately lost her visitation rights and primary custody in the divorce.

In the lawsuit, the woman also claims that Ghee used his connections to obtain fake drug test results and sent a locksmith to change the locks on her home so he could gain access… without her knowing.

A lawsuit is already looming against Ghee by a Calhoun County inmate who claims Ghee sexually assaulted her in a visiting room at the Calhoun County Jail; she said the attack was interrupted by a sheriff's deputy who was monitoring the encounter via video.

Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade confirms that a criminal investigation into Ghee has been ongoing since mid-July.

Wade cannot speak about the facts of the investigation, but says: “I have read the complaint and am glad she is sharing the facts of what happened to her. I am very proud of our correctional officers and how they handled that day and how our investigative team worked diligently with the Attorney General's Office on this case. This case involves a large amount of digital evidence and has been expanded to include additional individuals. This type of case takes time.”

WBRC attempted to reach Ghee or his law firm for comment, but we were unable to reach him.

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