The tables have certainly turned.
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According to the Associated Press, Christina Garcia—California’s Democratic Assemblywoman and leading figure in the state’s anti-sexual harassment movement, has been accused of sexual misconduct by a male staff member from another lawmaker’s office.
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On Thursday, Daniel Fierro told the publication that Garcia “stroked his back, squeezed his buttocks, and made an attempt to grope his crotch area” at a legislative softball game that took place back in 2014.
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At the time, Fierro did not publicly report the incident, but, last month, he opened up about it to his former boss, Democratic Assemblyman Ian Calderon, who took it to the leaders of the Assembly.
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Garcia, who’s also head of the Legislative Women’s Caucus, has been an active member of the social media-driven sexual misconduct campaign,
#MeToo, which Fierro said prompted his decision to come forth about the matter.
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“If the person leading the charge on it isn’t credible, it just ends up hurting the credibility of these very real stories,” Fierro tells AP.
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Allegedly, he isn’t the only victim. An unidentified lobbyist also made claims that Garcia had once spoken to him in a sexual manner and nearly grabbed his man parts at a fundraising event last year.
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It is believed by both Fierro and the lobbyist that Garcia was intoxicated.
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However, an investigation is now underway.
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Fierro has since left the Assembly and started his own communications firm.