California Democratic Party settles sexual assault complaints against former leader

California’s Democratic Party announced on Friday that it has reached settlements with five staff members who accused the party’s former leader of discrimination, assault and unwanted sexual advances.

In a statement, the party said it supports “fairness, respect and dignity for all” but did not elaborate on the credibility of the harassment claims. It also declined to release details about the cost of the “equitable settlements” and how the claims would be paid out.

Eric Bauman, who resigned as chairman in November 2018 following a slew of complaints, has previously said through his attorney that he “looks forward to complete vindication once the facts come out.”

“I fully concur with CDP Chair Rusty Hicks’ affirmation that some of the Party’s ‘most sacred values are fairness, respect, and dignity for all,’” he said in a statement Friday afternoon. “In that spirit, I am pleased that the CDP ‘has reached equitable settlements with’ all parties. Now that each of these actions has been resolved by the CDP, I am pleased that we can all move forward.”

William Floyd, Bauman’s former assistant who began working for him in 2016, sued the state party, alleging sexual harassment, assault, battery, negligence and civil rights violations.

Tina McKinnor, the party’s former operations director, John Vigna, former communications director, and activist Spencer Dayton also reached a deal with the state party worth more than $1 million, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the settlement deal Friday morning.

Brendan Stepp, a video editor who had worked for the party, accused Bauman of making unwanted sexual advances, according to the Wall Street Journal.

California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks acknowledged the five people’s service to the party and identified all of them by name in his statement.

This story was originally published January 3, 2020 at 12:10 PM.