garcia sexual assault

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Lawmaker who led #MeToo allegedly fired staffer for refusing to play Spin the Bottle

Four men have come forward with harassment allegations against Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia.

 

Grace Speas

IRL

Posted on Feb 20, 2018   Updated on May 22, 2021, 12:13 am CDT

A fourth former employee has stepped forward to accuse California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia of sexual misconduct.

David John Kernick, who worked as a field representative for the Democratic lawmaker, said Garcia asked him, while they were at a whiskey bar during a 2014 fundraiser, to play Spin the Bottle later that night in her hotel room. Kernick filed a formal complaint on Saturday with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, according to the Washington Post

After questioning whether Garcia’s suggestion to play Spin the Bottle was appropriate, Kernick said he was written up for insubordination and was fired two days later. Kernick described working with Garcia as “extremely stressful” in the complaint.

Garcia has now been accused of sexual misconduct by four former state employees, according to CBS This Morning. Garcia, who represents Bell Gardens in California, holds positions of leadership in the state legislature and was an active lawmaker in the #MeToo movement against sexual assault and harassment. Garcia was also featured as a “silence breaker” in Time magazine’s “Persons of the Year” concerning the movement.

Garcia has also been a strong critic of male colleagues accused of sexual assault and called on state Sen. Tony Mendoza and Assemblyman Matt Dababneh to resign after being accused.

One of the first former legislative staffers to come forward, Daniel Fierro, told CBS that Garcia groped his butt and tried to grab his crotch after a legislative softball game in 2014. Garcia said she does not remember her behavior being inappropriate at the game or on any other occasion, but she is now on voluntary leave.

“I have faith that the investigation will make sure and have the facts come out and clear my name,” Garcia said in an interview with CBS regarding Fierro’s claims.

A few days before Politico reported on Fierro’s allegations, Garcia celebrated the passage of a California law that punishes lawmakers who retaliate against a staffer for making a “good faith allegation,” such as one about sexual assault.

 

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*First Published: Feb 20, 2018, 4:16 pm CST