California assemblyman accused of forcing lobbyist into bathroom and masturbating
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento lobbyist Pamela Lopez has claimed that, in 2016, Democratic Assemblyman Matt Dababneh followed her into a bathroom, masturbated in front of her and urged her to touch him. Dababneh has strongly denied the allegation.
"It was Matt Dababneh," Lopez told the Los Angeles Times in a November interview.
Lopez jolted the California political world seven weeks ago when she first shared her account of an encounter in Las Vegas, joining more than 140 women as they denounced in an open letter a "pervasive" culture of sexual harassment and misconduct in the state Capitol.
Lopez had not publicly accused Dababneh until Monday, when she formally filed a complaint with the Assembly and named him at a news conference. The Times had been preparing a report on her accusations against Dababneh, and sought the assemblyman's comment late last week.
Dababneh told the Times on Monday afternoon that he "100 percent" denies Lopez's allegation.
"I am utterly shocked and blown away," Dababneh said in an interview. "This is a career-ending charge based on no facts."
The accusation against the assemblyman comes as a public reckoning over sexual harassment has upended the worlds of politics, entertainment, media and tech. In Sacramento, Democratic Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra resigned last week after allegations from multiple women that he made unwanted sexual advances throughout his career in state government. Democratic State Sen. Tony Mendoza lost his leadership positions and faces a legislative investigation after multiple allegations of misconduct toward female staffers.
