CDP Chair Bauman accused of sexual harrassment

California Democratic Party chair Eric Bauman is under investigation for sexual harassment and sexual assault, stemming from alleged incidents that happened at the State Party Executive Board meeting in Long Beach earlier this month. The LA Times has the details here.

Bauman has a number of friends in the Party and a number of enemies still upset that Kimberly Ellis isn’t chair. No actual evidence has been released and Bauman admitted to nothing in his statement. I want to see the facts and the results of the investigation. I’m bothered that there is no denial in Bauman’s statement.

From the story:

In a statement released Saturday evening, Bauman confirmed an investigation was underway but did not address the allegations against him. He said that independent counsel has been hired to investigate the matter.

“I look forward to putting these allegations behind us and moving forward as unified Democrats,” Bauman said in the statement.

Last week, Daraka Larimore-Hall, a vice chairman of the state party, sent a letter to state Democratic Party leadership calling for Bauman’s removal.

In the letter sent on Tuesday, Larimore-Hall said he learned of the allegations during a recent party executive board meeting a week ago. He said he had spoken to two of the alleged victims and that their stories “illustrate a clear and escalating pattern of Chairman Bauman’s horrific and dehumanizing behavior.”

Larimore-Hall declined to provide details of the specific allegations and said in a public statement on Saturday that he was withholding the names of those involved to protect their privacy.

Here’s the letter sent to Party officials over the Thanksgiving break.

Dear Fellow Democrat,

This is the hardest message I have ever had to write.

During the weekend of the recent CDP Executive Board meeting, I was approached by a number of Party staff who confided in me their stories of sexual harassment and assault by Chairman Eric Bauman. Their stories are devastating. I believe them.

I will forever be inspired by the bravery of these young political professionals, many of whom are at the very beginnings of their careers. I am in awe of their support for one another and by their fierce determination to stand together for justice.

My first and most important request to the entire Democratic community is to honor these survivors by respecting their desire to be left alone, and in some cases to remain anonymous. From the beginning of this process, I have done everything I can to make sure that they are in control, while directing them to the resources they need and deserve.

Obviously, it is completely unacceptable for Chairman Bauman to remain in office given these credible, corroborated and utterly heart-breaking allegations. That is why I initiated a complaint within the California Democratic Party Human Resources Department, and also called on Eric Bauman to resign as Chairman of the California Democratic Party.

After he ignored my demand for him to resign, I filed charges calling for his removal as Chair with CDP Secretary Jenny Bach. As a Vice-Chair of the California Democratic Party, I will not tolerate sexual harassment or assault on any level. And once a thorough investigation is conducted, we must work to ensure this never happens again.

As California Democrats, we are better than this. Let me say without hesitation, I will do everything in my power to help the victims find resolution, peace and justice.

In the days since the first brave souls have come forward, they have been joined by others with similar stories and experiences. I want to thank all of them for their trust and confidence in me, and most of all for speaking truth to power. I stand with them and I stand by them.

If anyone else feels they have been victimized, or has information that could be helpful to an investigation, they can contact me at (805 403 8183). Employees should also contact CDP Human Resourses (amy@cadem.org). WEAVE, Inc, provides high-quality counciling and advising services as well. (https://www.weaveinc.org/get-help)

Together, we will get through this.

Daraka Larimore-Hall