Los Angeles Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia has been accused of groping an underling employee. Originally, the complaint filed by her ex-legislative staffer was determined to be unfounded. However, the alleged victim filed a successful appeal of this decision. Now, the assemblywoman will face more scrutiny.
According to the woman’s male former legislative staffer, Garcia groped him while they were attending a legislative softball game. According to the staffer’s complaint, the incident happened four years ago. The first investigation into the incident did not produce any substantiation to the ex-staffer’s claims. Nevertheless, in a favorable response to his appeal, an attorney representing the Assembly notified the staffer that the Assembly Rules Committee would be investigating the matter further.
Part of the reason for the successful appeal was because the staffer claimed that the Assembly failed to interview several witnesses to the incident. Also, specific lawmakers present at the time did not get interviewed. According to a response from the staffer, “It is encouraging that the Assembly has reopened the investigation of Ms. Garcia … I look forward to working with the new investigator the Assembly has retained.”
The assemblywoman has continued to deny the ex-staffer’s claims. She said that the original finding of the claims being unsubstantiated was accurate. She also pointed to the “politicization” of the investigation against her.
If you have been victimized by inappropriate touching by your superior at work, you don’t have to put up with it. You can make your voice heard, file a complaint and — if successfully navigated — you might be able to receive justice and restitution regarding the wrong that was done to you.
Source: Las Angeles Times, “Harassment complaint against Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia to get ‘further investigation’,” Melanie Mason, June 13, 2018
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