Tweet

Trisha

19 Feb, 34 tweets, 51 min read

@GavinNewsom

Governor @GavinNewsom: I am writing to you today to ask you to cease any consideration of Assemblymember Rob Bonta for appointment to Attorney General.

Mr. Governor, I worked in a #CALeg office riddled with sex abuse & exploitation.

The 3 married men at the top of the food chain in my Legislative office, including the Legislator, used power in an attempt to gain sexual advantage over young women in & around the workplace. My abuse started as an entry-level staffer: It irreparably harmed my health & wellbeing

It was made crystal clear to me that if I ever spoke up about what was taking place in our office -- and the Capitol, to a greater extent -- that my job, safety, livelihood, future prospects & reputation would be in jeopardy. My abuser delivered that msg personally, but also had

numerous enforcers around to fortify the intimidation. Please understand, when it comes to sex abuse in the State Capitol, we're not talking about a few guys playing grab-ass on the cocktail circuit. We're talking about hundreds of abusers & enforcers who have each other's backs.

I looked up to my abuser, he was a trusted mentor. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't tell you how hard it was to process & confront the abuse and trauma: beyond the sexual exploitation there was insidious coercive control, psychological abuse & emotional grooming and conditioning.

There was also a time when I had great respect & admiration for Assemblymember Bonta. Until he made a calculated decision to intimidate me, prevent me from reporting misconduct, and provide political cover & legitimacy for the man who started abusing me as an entry-level staffer.

As a Chief of Staff in a new office, I came forward to file an internal complaint w the Assembly, to document the widespread abuse of power & exploitation mentioned above. As promised, my abuser activated numerous local & state leaders in an attempt to intimidate me into silence.

I was contacted by Legislators, Staff, Mayors, Councilmembers, Schoolboard members, even a former Attorney General: ALL sent to threaten & pressure me from reporting abuse. They told me not to put anything in writing. They told me not to retain my own attorney. It was TERRIFYING.

Together, this group was tasked to help "run out the clock" on me. A tactic, I would later learn, that isolates victims, keeps them quiet & intimidated, while limiting their options for a police response, a lawsuit, or both. It also leaves the victim further susceptible to abuse.

One of those bullies was Assemblymember Rob Bonta's then Chief of Staff. He visited me personally & called me on the phone, first posing with friendly advice: "We've been to war together, this isn't how we handle family business."

But then his instruction became more firm. He told me to drop my internal complaint. And like the others, he told me not to put anything in writing and not to retain my own attorney. Again, this was Assemblymember Rob Bonta's then Chief of Staff.

He said if I did any of those things, Asm. Rob Bonta would withhold political contributions & political endorsements from my new boss, who was getting into a contentious Senate Race. He told me Bonta might even endorse another local guy over my boss, if I refused to "play ball."

They weren't just threatening me. Now they were threatening my boss & his political future.

That new boss of mine -- the guy then being leveraged in a new attempt to prevent me from talking about abuse in the Capitol: That was Bob Wieckowski. A truly decent man & public servant.

@GavinNewsom

To this day, Gov @GavinNewsom, I cannot find the words to describe the trauma, isolation, fear, betrayal, hopelessness & breathless pain in my chest that arrived when my abuser & enforcers like Rob Bonta, USED MY BOSS'S FUTURE as a bargaining chip to keep their misconduct buried.

@WeSaidEnough

There was no @WeSaidEnough to turn to. And the Speaker's Office & HR joined in PRESSURING ME not to retain my own attorney. I remember Ron Pane from the Asm Sergeants telling me if I wanted to be a "team player" I'd use the Legislature's Attorneys. "That's what they're here for.

I learned the hard way that the Legislature's Attorneys aren't there to protect staff, they exist to PROTECT THE "INSTITUTION". My voice was silenced. Because, Mr. Gov, the sex abuse in that Institution is both conducted & buried by an ECOSYSTEM of abusers, enablers & enforcers.

Over the years, I've tried to reach out to Rob Bonta to discuss the nature of abuse in Sacramento & how it impacts victims.

How it impacted me.

He has refused to listen. Instead, he's gone on to provide political cover for my abuser, repackaging him as a God-fearing family man.

@GavinNewsom

Governor @GavinNewsom, when Rob Bonta sent his COS in an attempt to intimidate me, prevent me from reporting abuse & prevent me from retaining my own attorney, that was obstruction of justice. That was witness intimidation. Rob Bonta is not worthy of your consideration for AG.

@GavinNewsom

I have contacted your office @GavinNewsom & I welcome the opportunity to discuss why Asm. Rob Bonta's refusal to learn about the abuse he buried, hear from a victim he once intimidated & his refusal to acknowledge these harms, makes him an unacceptable choice for Attorney General

@GavinNewsom

We have wonderful champions of justice & equality throughout the State of California.

That means, Gov @GavinNewsom, those who have caused #MeToo pain, or helped cover it up, should not be in line for promotion or appointment, especially if they have REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HARM.

Gov, I thank you in advance for your consideration on this painful matter.

Anyone who sees this & shares my concerns may contact the GOV & ask that he not appoint Officials who have attempted to prevent anyone from freely reporting abuse or misconduct ➡️ bit.ly/3qeZL4C

On a personal note, I have been struggling for years to talk about the abuse I was subjected to as a #CALeg staffer under the guise of "mentorship". But it must be talked about, because it is NOT an isolated incident. So many more are still suffering in silence, afraid to speak.

@GavinNewsom

Although it's painful, I'm available to discuss these traumatic events, if it helps you, Gov @GavinNewsom, or anyone else further assess the situation, the nature of the abuse & the deliberate role Rob Bonta played in an intimidation campaign to prevent reporting & accountability