California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia is a leading face of the #MeToo movement.
Late last year, Garcia’s photograph was featured by Time in its “Silence Breakers” article, honoring the #MeToo movement’s leading voices. Now, the Los Angeles County Democrat stands accused of repeated sexual harassment by former male staffers, who say Garcia is guilty of the same conduct she’s purported to fight.
In early February, a man who worked formerly for another member of the California assembly told Politico that Garcia “cornered him alone” after a staff softball game in 2014 and “began stroking his back, then squeezed his buttocks and attempted to touch his crotch before he extricated himself and quickly left.” The man, Daniel Ferrio, was 25 at the time of the incident.
A major lobbyist also alleged in an interview with Politico that Garcia drunkenly grabbed his crotch after a fundraiser last May, whispering, “I’ve set a goal for myself to f**k you.” The lobbyist alleges Garcia had been increasingly flirtatious in their interactions, repeatedly calling him for late night drinks.
On Sunday, another Politico report revealed ex-staffer David John Kernick, a Marine veteran, filed a new complaint against Garcia, accusing her of pressuring his coworkers into playing “Spin the Bottle,” and then dismissing him for questioning her conduct.
“It was definitely uncomfortable,” Kernick told Politico. “But I realized it’s different for a man than for a woman. … You know it’s inappropriate, but at the same time you may wonder, ‘How many women do you work for that act like that?’ You think … ‘Maybe she’s just really cool.'”
Last week, four former staff members of Garcia sent an open letter accusing her of boasting graphically of her sexual exploits in the office, sometimes involving other elected officials. The staffers claimed Garcia bragged that sleeping with other lawmakers was “a good way of getting information,” and habitually referred to other women by the c-word.
Garcia’s conduct is under investigation, and Politico reports that she’s been on an unpaid, voluntary leave of absence since earlier this month.
In October, Garcia told the New York Times she was a victim of harassment in California’s Capitol. “Multiple people have grabbed my butt and grabbed my breasts,” she claimed.
Most of Garcia’s alleged behavior occurred while she was intoxicated, according to her accusers, who described regular invitations to drink on the job, sometimes in the office during work days, where she kept a wine fridge and kegerator.
