Four current California lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct
Records on a dozen sexual harassment allegations made public by California state legislative leaders detail complaints against former and current lawmakers, including a candidate for governor.
The California Senate and Assembly on Friday released documents dating back more than a decade that show a combined 18 substantiated or well-founded sexual harassment complaints lodged against state politicians and top staffers.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Travis Allen was among three other current lawmakers named in the unprecedented document release.
Allen, a state assemblyman from Huntington Beach, was accused of making repeated physical contact that left a staff member feeling “uncomfortable” back in 2013.
The female staffer outlined several occasions during which Allen seemed to stand unnecessarily close to her, according to the records. She also recalled a briefing during which the Governor-hopeful “slid his foot over so that it was touching hers.”
She additionally reported “another woman in the office” described to her a handshake with Allen during which he continued to hold onto her hand and “petted it.”
The complaints against Allen came just two months after he was sworn in as an assemblyman.
Jon Waldie, at the time chief administrative officer for the State Assembly, informed Allen two women had “perceived him as being too familiar and it was making them feel uncomfortable.”
Waldie continued on to remind Allen “to be very conscious of his conduct.”
Allen released a statement Friday through his spokeswoman, pushing back against the allegations. He told the Los Angeles Times he was “shocked” when he first learned of them in 2013 and believes their release was politically motivated.
“The release of this unsubstantiated complaint is a political attack by a Democrat-led committee,” he said. “I’m sure I’ve shaken many people’s hands, tapped many people on the shoulder, and have even tapped people’s feet accidentally. But there has never been anything in my actions that has been inappropriate, and nor will there ever be.”
The records also name state Sens. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) and Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) as well as Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Marina del Ray) and former Assembly Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) — who resigned last year following a series of misconduct allegations from several women.
Mendoza last week was suspended amid an investigation into allegations that he behaved inappropriately with a woman who worked with him 2010.
Burke acknowledged participating in a conversation about anal sex after a complaint was filed against her late last year, according to the documents. There did not appear to be any type of official punishment.
Hertzberg, known for greeting people with hugs, said he would no longer do so after three female staffers told the Sacramento Bee it made them uncomfortable. His nicknames include “Hugsberg” and “Huggy Bear.”
He said the instance described in the documents was “a settled matter from several years ago” and vowed to work toward making the Capitol “safe and accountable workplace for all.”
With News Wire Services
