(KMJ) State Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) had been under investigation for allegedly sexually harassing at least a half dozen women, including several subordinates, during his term in office.
The southern California democrat resigned Thursday just before an expulsion vote was to be held in the Senate chambers.
But he didn’t leave quietly. In his resignation letter – Mendoza wrote “It is clear that Senate President Pro Tem Kevin deLeon will not rest until he has my head on a platter to convince the #metoo movement of his ‘sincerity”.
Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford) issued a statement too: “Quite frankly it’s about time and really overdue. The Senate leadership’s mishandling of this issue for months has not been productive. “Hopefully the incoming Pro-Tem will take the matter more seriously and help install a system for reporting allegations and adjudicating cases that helps protect the women who work in and visit the Capitol. “Removing Senators from the process of deciding cases of sexual harassment involving their friends and roommates is imperative.” “The Mendoza mess has brought to light all of the flaws of our sexual harassment policies but hopefully will lead us to some resolution.”
