The Orange County District Attorney’s office is once again under scrutiny following a lawsuit filed by a former prosecutor alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. The lawsuit, filed last week in Orange County Superior Court, claims that the former prosecutor, identified as Jane Doe, faced unwanted advances and sexually suggestive texts from her supervisor, Jess Rodriguez. According to the lawsuit, the harassment began in April 2023, and included texts such as, “I need to get in some quality time watching you bend over to reach the projector.”
The Los Angeles Times reports that Doe also faced retaliation when she reported the harassment, including being passed over for promotions and being subjected to a disciplinary investigation. The Orange County district attorney’s office, led by District Attorney Todd Spitzer, has launched an investigation into these allegations with an outside agency. Rodriguez, who was placed on administrative leave in March, resigned from his position in June.
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions against Spitzer’s office, some of which have resulted in costly settlements. According to Voice of OC, Spitzer’s office has already cost taxpayers over $3 million due to findings of official misconduct and retaliation against female victims of harassment.
The ongoing scrutiny of Spitzer’s office includes previous allegations of misconduct and racial bias. The Davis Vanguard highlights testimony from a recent trial where internal chaos and retaliation were reported following harassment allegations. The trial, which is being held in San Diego, continues to spotlight the culture within the Orange County District Attorney’s office, with more testimonies expected to further examine the leadership and accountability issues.
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