State Sen. Tony Mendoza Sues CA For Refusing To Allow Him To Work

ARTESIA, CA – Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, who has been on a leave of absence while an investigation continues into sexual misconduct allegations said Thursday he is suing the state for refusing to allow him to return to work.

"The Senate's disparate treatment of its own members and their constituents, along with its constantly evolving and secretive investigative process is wrong and deeply troubling," Mendoza said. "The Senate's process and procedures for handling sexual harassment allegations remain a mystery, which unfairly impacts not only me, but also my constituents, the public and victims of sexual harassment, who have no idea how their complaints will be handled."

Representatives for Senate President pro tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Mendoza agreed to take a leave of absence until Jan. 26 while the Senate conducted an investigation into alleged inappropriate behavior toward female interns, and into allegations that three of his staff members were fired for raising concerns about his conduct.

Mendoza has denied any wrongdoing.

But when he tried to return to the Senate in late January, the Senate voted to extend his leave for another 60 days because the investigation was still ongoing.

Mendoza contends in his lawsuit that the move was unconstitutional, and argues that the handling of his case amounts to "sleight-of-hand where attacks on one Senator are used to hide other more serious allegations and offenders from public view."

The lawsuit, filed in Sacramento, contends the Senate is conducting "a secret and apparently unbounded investigation into the last decade of Sen. Tony Mendoza's career without notice specifying the charges against him, the scope of the investigation or the standards against which his conduct will be judged."

The suit asks that the resolution extending his leave of absence be voided and seeks a ruling that the continuing investigation violates his due process rights. He also seeks an order allowing him to return to work in the Senate and restoring his position on Senate committees.

City News Service; Image via Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press