California Democratic leaders blast party over sexual misconduct report. See the letter

If California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks thought he could get away with burying the party’s official investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by his predecessor, Eric Bauman, he is in for a rude awakening.

Bauman resigned in Nov. 2018 after multiple victims went public with allegations of misconduct, including sexual harassment and discrimination. Last week, Hicks announced on Twitter that he would not release any details of the party’s official report on the scandal, which cost state party donors millions of dollars in settlements. Hicks’ decision drew criticism from other state party officials, who called it a “cover-up.”

Today, a group of party leaders sent Hicks an open letter that blasts his attempt to hide the “scope and severity” of Bauman’s misconduct. It also accuses Hicks of trying to circumvent party rules and bylaws in order to bury the report’s findings.

The open letter, obtained by The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board, says Hicks’ actions are an attempt to “deny the truth and hide the evidence after settling several lawsuits that cost organization stakeholders $3 million.” The letter, signed by six current and former Democratic officials, calls for “an open, critical assessment of governance problems that enabled the abuse to escalate and harm more people,” as well as an open apology to the victims.

“Hiding the report sends the message that serial harassers and assailants are still welcome in the party,” states the letter, noting that Bauman still has a seat on the Los Angeles County Central Committee.

“That ongoing reality causes dread and risk of re-traumatization. It undercuts both the sense of safety and desire to contribute by members whose participation the party says it values,” the letter continues. “Either the party at all levels openly owns up to the truth of past wrongdoing, holds serial harassers accountable, and removes them from governing roles or it hides from sunlight and sound governance practices.”

The letter was signed by Hans Johnson, president of the East Area Progressive Democrats; Iyad Afalqa, president of the California Democratic Council and member of CDP’s executive board; Eileen Hatrick, CDP executive board elected member; Lori Saldaña, a former state assemblymember; Linda Pérez, member-elect of the L.A. County Central Committee; and Karen Suarez, an elected member of the L.A. County Central Committee.

Hicks and Bauman both came up through Democratic politics in Los Angeles County, and some see their close ties as a clear conflict of interest. After Bauman resigned in disgrace, Hicks beat Democratic activist Kimberly Ellis in the 2019 contest to replace him.

That same year, a 28-year-old man who worked as Bauman’s assistant for nearly two years claimed that his boss performed “oral sex on him without his consent” at least three times, according to the Los Angeles Times. The lawsuit followed an earlier one filed by three former staffers who alleged both sexual harassment and racial discrimination.

The party’s former communications director told the Wall Street Journal that Bauman groped or harassed him on “nearly a daily basis,” called him “baby” and demanded to be called “daddy.” Another man claimed Bauman groped him at least twice, and yet another man alleged that Bauman made unwanted sexual advances.

Not all of Bauman’s alleged misconduct was sexual. Tina McKinnor, a former party employee who is African American, accused Bauman of discrimination and said he made racist comments. After promising a thorough investigation and trying to cling to power, Bauman finally resigned. In Jan. 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported that the party had paid $2.9 million to settle claims against him.

While running to replace Bauman, Hicks told the San Francisco Chronicle that “the party can be more transparent.” Now that he’s in charge, he’s apparently changed his mind.

Two years after the #MeToo movement kicked off an era of accountability for powerful people who use positions of authority to sexually victimize others, the CDP seems to be backsliding. By trying to bury the report, the party seems to be saying that public accountability is unnecessary if the victims get paid, and that people who look the other way while abusers wreak havoc shouldn’t face repercussions.

The open letter to Hicks says his actions also suggest that “mistreatment of workers by a state party official and creation of workplace environments where sexual harassment and assault are tolerated is better hidden than held accountable” and “ sexual harassment and assault of men and LGBTQ people is somehow not as significant as against women and non-LGBTQ people.”

Hicks should heed the open letter and reconsider his terrible decision. As the leader of the nation’s largest state Democratic party, Hicks has a responsibility to set a good example. Unfortunately, his actions to date will only serve to empower abusers and could scare victims into silence.

This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 9:02 AM.