“Real Housewives of Potomac” star Monique Samuels has filed counter-assault charges against her co-star Candiace Dillard after Dillard accused Samuels of second-degree assault.
According to a summons obtained by PEOPLE, Dillard, 32, has now been charged with second-degree assault from the District Court of Montgomery County in Maryland. On Thursday, Samuels, 36, filed a complaint with the court’s commissioner, according to records. The commissioner reportedly found probable cause in Samuels’ complaint, which resulted in a summons for Dillard to appear in court on Feb. 6, 2020. Samuels is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 23.
The legal actions stem from an Oct. 16 incident between the two women. Samuels and Dillard were at a dinner party with other members of #RHOP cast members when Samuels reportedly grabbed Dillard by the hair and pulled her down. Samuels’ attorney, A. Scott Bolden, responded to the incident saying, “At this point in our investigation, we had no choice but to file this criminal summons case after several attempts to mediate this situation with Ms. Bassett were rejected by herself and her team.”
“My client was assaulted by someone known for her aggressive, threatening, and belligerent conduct. On this regard, Mrs. Samuels had no choice but to fully defend herself, and she did,” Bolden’s statement continued. ”Nevertheless, my client wants nothing more than to find peace with this situation, but unfortunately, the ability to do so through mediation has been denied. Therefore this summons is the proper next step for Mrs. Samuels and her right to self-defense.”
Dillard’s personal attorney James L. Walker, Jr., told PEOPLE: “I did not know innocent people filed counterclaims as a strategic move after we all know they have been charged and caught on video threatening and attacking our client! We gladly welcome seeing Mrs. Samuels in court! We pray she is presently getting some type of treatment for anger management! The video is very clear, and my client and I have confirmed with the network that Mrs. Samuels was clearly the aggressor!”
