11 CA Lawmakers Accused Of Sexual Misconduct Since 2017

SACRAMENTO, CA — Eleven California lawmakers are among more than 100 politicians across the country now accused of sexual misconduct in the four years since the onset of the national "#MeToo" reckoning in 2017, according to data collected by The Associated Press.

The state lawmakers are among other politicians, entertainers and business leaders exposed in the social justice movement to end sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The movement began in 2017 when movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, now a convicted sex offender, was accused by more than 80 women of sexual misconduct allegations dating back to the late 1970s.

The movement that inspired the #MeToo hashtag also prompted a flurry of new legislation, training requirements for legislators and investigative guidelines in statehouses across America, including California.

The AP compiled the database as part of its ongoing coverage of how politicians are responding to sexual misconduct claims. It includes state lawmakers only.

It doesn't include members of Congress or other elected officials investigated regarding sexual misconduct claims — notably New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is embroiled in a sexual harassment investigation, or Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was initially investigated in connection with sex trafficking and now faces a larger review into public corruption.

Some of the allegations against state lawmakers are no less serious.

Nationally, more than 40 of the accused state lawmakers have resigned or were expelled from office, and at least as many others faced other repercussions, including the loss of committee leadership positions, The AP reported. A handful were cleared.

The lawmakers included in the database are predominantly men, but a couple of women also have been accused of sexual misconduct. Both Democrats and Republicans are the subjects of what could be career-ending investigations.

In California:

Assemblyman Matt Dababneh (D-Woodland Hills) resigned effective Jan. 1. 2018, after a lobbyist said he pushed her into a bathroom during a Las Vegas social event and engaged in lewd behavior in front of her. A lawyer hired by the Legislature substantiated the claims following an investigation. A legislative panel denied his appeal Aug. 24, 2018.

Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra (D-Los Angeles) Resigned in November 2017 after allegations that he had kissed or groped multiple women without their consent.

Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) resigned Feb. 22, 2018, after an investigation found he likely engaged in unwanted "flirtatious or sexually suggestive" behavior with six women, including four subordinates, a lobbyist and a young woman in a fellowship with another lawmaker.

Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-West Los Angeles) resigned Dec. 27, 2017, citing unspecified health reasons after sexual harassment complaints were filed against him. A report by an outside investigator hired by the Assembly, which was publicly released Jan. 16, 2019, substantiated complaints that Ridley-Thomas had kissed an employee, held her hand and called her several times after she made it clear she wasn't interested in 2016.

Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) was removed from all legislative committees May 18, 2018, and required to attend sensitivity and sexual harassment policy training after outside investigators determined she used vulgar language in violation of the chamber's sexual harassment policy. An investigation initially cleared her of allegedly groping a former legislative staff member in 2014, but legislative leaders reopened the case in June after her accuser appealed. In November 2018, an investigator said Garcia had been “overly familiar” with the staffer but said there wasn’t enough evidence to substantiate the groping claim and said Garcia did not retaliate against him for filing a complaint.

Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) was formally reprimanded March 8, 2018, by the Senate Rules Committee and told not to hug people anymore after an investigation that concluded his frequent embraces made multiple female colleagues uncomfortable.

Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) was required to participate in sensitivity training and additional sexual harassment training after an investigation concluded June 20, 2018, that he "frequently engaged in sexual 'locker room talk." The investigation found a separate sexual misconduct claim was unsubstantiated.

Sen. Joel Anderson (R-San Diego) was reprimanded Sept. 24, 2018, after an investigation into a complaint that he had rubbed the shoulders of a lobbyist and threatened to slap her while he was "somewhat inebriated" during an encounter in August at a restaurant across from the Capitol.

Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood) was included in sexual misconduct complaint records released Feb. 2, 2018, for participating in an inappropriate discussion about anal sex. She was notified of the complaint in February 2017.

Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) was included in sexual misconduct complaint records released Feb. 2, 2018, for being accused of inappropriately touching a female staff member in early 2013. Allen did not seek re-election and lost in the June 2018 gubernatorial primary

Assemblyman Bill Brough (D-Dana Point) was accused by four women in a June 26, 2019, Los Angeles Times report of making unwanted advances between 2011 and 2018. Brough won election to the legislature in 2014 and previously was on the Dana Point city council. The city attorney previously determined there was insufficient evidence to come to any conclusion about the 2011 incident. An Assembly panel concluded that one of the other alleged incidents, in 2015, did not violate Assembly policy.

About three-fourths of the states have passed some 75 laws and resolutions over the past two years that target sexual harassment, abuse or assault in government or in private business. About half the states renewed or extended deadlines to pursue criminal charges or civil lawsuits over childhood sexual abuse. California has passed 10 pieces of legislation related to the #MeToo movement.

AB 403, signed into law in 2018, grants whistleblower protections to legislative staffers who report sexual misconduct or other misbehavior.

AB 2055, signed into law in 2018, requires the lobbying ethics courses taught by legislative ethics committees to include information on policies against sexual harassment.

AB 3109, signed into law in 2018, voids any provisions in contracts or settlements reached after Jan. 1, 2019, that waive a right to testify about alleged sexual harassment or criminal conduct when requested to do so for administrative, legislative or judicial proceedings.

SB 820, signed into law in 2018, prohibits settlement agreements from preventing the disclosure of factual information about a sexual assault, harassment, discrimination or retaliation claim filled in a civil or administrative action, but allows accusers to shield information that would reveal their identity.

SB 1343, signed into law in 2018, requires employers of at least five employees to provide at least two hours of sexual harassment training to supervisors and at least one hour of training to all other employees by Jan. 1, 2020, and to do so again once every two years. Requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to post training courses on its website.

SB 1300, signed into law in 2018, requires employers of at least five employees to provide at least two hours of sexual harassment training to supervisors and at least one hour of training to all other employees by Jan. 1, 2020, and to do so again once every two years. Requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to post training courses on its website.

SB 419, signed into law in 2018, clarifies that whistleblower protections also extend to employees who make complaints about non-legislative employees such as lobbyists, requires each house to maintain a keep records of complaints for 12 years, imposes civil liability of up to $10,000 for violating the act.

AB 218, signed into law in 2019, suspends statute of limitations for three years, starting Jan. 1, 2020, to allow people alleging childhood sexual abuse to bring lawsuits. Otherwise, sets deadline to sue at age 40 or five years from the discovery of abuse, instead of the previous limit of age 26 or within three years of discovering abuse.

AB 9, signed into law in 2019, extends deadline to file workplace harassment, discrimination or retaliation complaints from one year to three years.

AB 51, signed into law in 2019, prohibits employers from requiring workers to enter into arbitration agreements, which waive various rights such as the ability to sue

States also updated their sexual harassment policies and required training of lawmakers on appropriate workplace conduct. At least 45 House chambers and 43 Senate chambers now require legislators to receive training on appropriate workplace conduct and on preventing, identifying and reporting sexual misconduct.

About half of state legislative chambers have turned to independent investigators to look into complaints of sexual misconduct and harassment by lawmakers.

California requires sexual misconduct prevention training for both House and Senate lawmakers. All accusations of sexual misconduct require an external investigation.