A prominent supporter of President Barack Obama and co-founder of the Human Rights Campaign was arrested last week on charges of sodomy and sexual abuse related to what authorities said was an encounter with a juvenile male . Terrence Bean , 66 , a major Democratic donor and a celebrated gay-rights activist , was indicted on two felony charges of sodomy and a misdemeanor count of sexual abuse by a grand jury and arrested in Oregon Wednesday , according to a statement from the Portland Police Bureau . Bean was released later that day on bail , pending a court hearing . Kiah Lawson , a 25-year-old identified by multiple news outlets as Bean 's ex-boyfriend , was arrested on Thursday on related charges , Portland Police confirmed . He 's also been released from jail , and pleaded not guilty on Friday , according to The Oregonian newspaper . The charges relate to an alleged encounter the two had with a 15-year-old boy in Oregon last year , The Oregonian reported . Bean 's attorney has denied the charges and said in a statement that Bean is the `` victim of an extortion ring . '' CNN is not naming the alleged victim because the network does not identify minors or victims of sexual assaults . According to a release from the Portland Police Bureau , its Sex Crimes Unit detectives are investigating the case . Obama : A `` great friend and supporter '' Bean , a real-estate developer and co-founder of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign , is a powerful figure in Democratic politics . The Oregonian reported that he helped raise more than half a million dollars for Obama 's 2012 re-election campaign , and Federal Election Commission records show he 's contributed thousands to Democrats , including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others . Obama 's LGBT campaign contributors . Photos posted online show him with the Obamas , House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and aboard Air Force One with the President . In remarks at a 2009 Human Rights Campaign dinner , President Obama thanked Bean , calling him a `` great friend and supporter . '' Human Rights Campaign spokesman Fred Sainz told CNN on Saturday that Bean took a leave of absence from the organization the day of the arrest `` until his issues are resolved . '' `` Terry Bean has taken a voluntary leave of absence from the HRC board until his issues are resolved . Bean is just one of 80 board members , none of whom have daily oversight or responsibility for any of our programs , '' Sainz said . He said the HRC `` does tremendous work to make America a more just and equal nation '' and called that work `` vital and is bigger than any one individual . '' The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund declined to comment on the development , but Bean has no current involvement with the organization besides contributing funds to its operations . Attorney : Bean is the victim of an extortion ring . Bean 's attorney , Kristen Winemiller , said the allegations against him should not be taken at `` face value . '' `` Over the course of several months in 2013-2014 Terry was the victim of an extortion ring led by several men known to law enforcement , '' Winemiller said . `` This current arrest is connected to the ongoing investigation of that case in which Mr. Bean has fully cooperated . '' Lawson 's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment . Lawson 's former attorney told The Oregonian that Lawson stumbled upon a camera Bean used to secretly record sexual encounters with him and other men , and took screenshots of some of the images , hoping to secure money from Bean in exchange for their return . While Lawson 's attorney characterized the money as `` damages , '' Bean alleged extortion , and took his concerns to the district attorney . The investigation was eventually taken up by the Portland Police Department due to a conflict of interest with the DA and Lawson 's former attorney , and that investigation led to Bean 's indictment and arrest .
Terry Bean is a major Democratic donor and a celebrated gay-rights activist . A grand jury has indicted him on charges of sodomy and sexual abuse . The Portland Police Bureau Sex Crimes Unit is investigating the case . President Obama has called Bean a `` great friend and supporter ''