In reversal, California Democratic Party to release parts of sexual misconduct report

Last Saturday, The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board called on California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks to reveal the findings of the party’s official report on sexual misconduct allegations against the party’s former chair – or resign.

Hours later, Hicks – who had said he would keep the investigation’s details secret – reversed his position. He announced plans to eventually release more details of the investigation into former CDP Chair Eric Bauman.

“The CDP will retain Altschuler Berzon LLP, a nationally-recognized public interest law firm, & a leading & respected trauma expert to actively engage w/ survivors and/or their counsel to determine what portions of the investigation should/should not be released,” wrote Hicks on Twitter.

It was a necessary shift to ensure accountability for Bauman and Democratic officials who apparently ignored the powerful leader’s abuse for years. Bauman resigned in 2018 after at least five party staffers came forward with allegations of assault, racial discrimination and unwanted sexual advances. Bauman’s one-time assistant, for example, alleged that Bauman performed “oral sex on him without his consent” at least three times. The party’s communications director said that Bauman groped him on a “nearly a daily basis.” Others alleged a pattern of serious misbehavior and discriminatory comments.

Hicks’ decision to hide the findings of the investigation outraged many victims and party officials. His sudden reversal is a testament to their organizing power. Hicks had originally announced on Twitter that he would bury the report, ostensibly to protect victims. But it appears there are many, many alleged victims of Bauman’s abuse, and some of them saw Hicks’ actions as a cover-up.

Five former party staffers settled their claims against Bauman for a reported $2.9 million last year, but one CDP official said many other alleged victims did not file lawsuits.

“In terms of talking about victims or survivors of abuse by Eric Bauman, we’re talking about a very large group of people, most of whom have not taken any action,” said Daraka Larimore-Hall, vice-chair of the CDP. “When I filed charges against Chairman Bauman to remove him, I was contacted by over 20 people with credible stories.”

Larimore-Hall, who lost the race for CDP chair to Hicks last year, is one of several high-ranking party officials who challenged his decision to hide the investigation’s findings. Other party members who spoke to The Bee said they saw Hicks’ desire to bury the report as an attempt to protect party leaders rather than victims.

Hans Johnson, president of the East Area Progressive Democrats in Los Angeles, said he had dealt with Bauman’s sexual misconduct on multiple occasions. He accused Hicks of “shielding the guilty.”

“It would probably implicate a number of other people who were conflicted and did not do anything about it,” said another alleged Bauman victim, who asked to remain unnamed. “Some of the [party] officers were aware of this early on and chose to keep quiet. Nobody wants attention called to those officers.”

The party official said the CDP had fostered a “general culture of abuse” in which powerful individuals felt free to do as they pleased while party leaders looked the other way.

“If I had to put myself in Rusty Hicks’ shoes, it’s probably that other officers would be implicated – people who were in a position to do something and didn’t do anything about it,” said the official.

Hicks has declined multiple interview requests from The Bee. Bauman, through an attorney, also declined to comment. On Saturday, however, Hicks appeared to abandon his plan to hide the details of the investigation.

This is welcome news, but it’s just the beginning. Now, Hicks and the CDP must make sure the voices of all the victims – not just those who sued – are included in the process. There’s a big difference between protecting victims and evading public accountability. Hicks has proven his inability to perceive the difference. That’s why he should stand aside and let the CDP’s victims lead the way.