Legislator cleared in sexual harassment probe

SACRAMENTO — California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia has been removed from all of her committee posts after facing accusations of sexual harassment, with the investigation into her conduct coming to a close Thursday.

A former legislative staffer who accused the Bell Gardens Democrat of inappropriate sexual advances said Assembly officials have ended the investigation into his complaint without finding any wrongdoing. Garcia could return to work in Sacramento as soon as Monday.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, a Paramount Democrat, issued a strong rebuke of Garcia on Thursday, stripping his fellow Democrat of posts on four committees including the chairmanship of the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials.

“Despite the decision that the most egregious allegations could not be substantiated, it is clear that Assemblymember Garcia has engaged in a pattern of behavior that must be addressed,” Rendon said in a written statement. The Assembly leader also said Garcia will have to attend sexual harassment and sensitivity training when she returns to work.

Without any committee work, Garcia’s duties will largely be relegated to voting on bills when they come to the floor.

The ex-staffer, Daniel Fierro, alleged that Garcia stroked his back and buttocks and reached for his groin at a charity softball game in 2014. His allegations were first reported in February by Politico, which also reported on allegations from an unnamed lobbyist about Garcia’s behavior at a Sacramento fundraising event.

Fierro said that he received a letter and phone call from the Assembly informing him that his claim was found to be unsubstantiated but that he got no further details.

“It’s concerning because we don’t know the methodology,” he said. “This is something people have been saying long before I was involved — that this is an incredibly opaque process. I’m not asking it to be slanted toward victims; I just want it to be balanced, and it’s not that.”