Lobbyist accuses assemblyman of sexual assault

SACRAMENTO — A lobbyist accused Assemblyman Matt Dababneh of sexually assaulting her at a party in Las Vegas, disregarding a letter from his attorney that threatened to sue her for defamation if she went forward with a Monday press conference.

The warning letter — from prominent attorney Patricia Glaser, of Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP in Los Angeles — prompted Sen. Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, to cut ties with the law firm.

Hertzberg put out a news release on his Senate web page Monday afternoon announcing he would step down as of counsel to Glaser Weil. He signed on with the law firm in November 2014, shortly after being elected to the Senate.

“I certainly understand why one would seek out Patty Glaser,” Hertzberg said in the release. “But given the circumstances, Glaser Weil and I have mutually agreed to suspend our affiliation, effective immediately, during the pendency of this matter.”

Glaser could not be reached for comment.

Pamela Lopez made the formal accusation against Dababneh, an Encino Democrat, in a report sent to Assemblyman Ken Cooley, chair of the Assembly Rules Committee. Lopez alleged in a letter to Cooley that she and Dababneh were guests at a party to celebrate the engagement of two mutual friends on Jan. 16, 2016 when the assemblyman followed her into a bathroom, blocked the door and masturbated while asking her to touch him.

Dababneh told her not to tell anyone about his actions, she alleged.

“I affirmatively deny that this event ever happened — at any time,” Dababneh wrote in a statement. “I am saddened by this lobbyist’s effort to create this falsehood and make these inflammatory statements, apparently for her own self-promotion and without regard to the reputation of others. I look forward to clearing my name.”

Lopez was joined at the news conference by Jessica Yas Barker, who said she worked with Dababneh when he was district director of the state office of a California congressman, and alleged that he frequently engaged in sexual harassment.

Dababneh shared his thoughts on the attractiveness of co-workers, instructed female subordinates not to “dress like a lesbian” and discussed his sexual exploits in detail, Barker said.

Jean Hyams, a partner with Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP who represents both women, said the system for reporting and investigating sexual assault or harassment in the Legislature is broken and has never resulted in anyone being removed from office.

“It takes a vote of the Legislature to expel someone,” Hyams said in an interview.

“So imagine a victim who is looking at having been sexually assaulted or raped and what they know is that the process they would go through really has no clear hope that somebody in authority would take action because it’s become a political football,” Hyams said.

Hyams said her clients hoped to reform the system by coming forward with their accusations.

Lopez previously identified herself as a victim of sexual assault by a Sacramento politician but wrote in her letter to Cooley that she didn’t decide to reveal her alleged assailant until she received assurances from members of the Assembly Rules Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation Prevention and Response “that they were committed to protecting victims.”

She contended in her letter that she might have revealed the incident sooner but was afraid to do so because of “the lack of a trustworthy system in the State House for investigating reports of sexual harassment and holding those who commit it accountable regardless of their position.”

Glaser sent a letter on Friday threatening to sue Lopez for making false claims.

“Mr. Dababneh unequivocally denies the occurrence of the incident of sexual harassment that you allege,” Glaser wrote. “If you proceed with your press conference or any other public statement and make any false and defamatory allegations against Mr. Dababneh, you will be held fully accountable in damages.”

Leslie Levy, another partner at Levy Vinick, responded Monday with a letter to Glaser that contended the allegations are true and promising to defend Lopez against claims of defamation.

“Mr. Dababneh’s threat to sue Ms. Lopez for damage to his reputation is the kind of intimidation that keeps many sexual harassment victims silent,” she said.

Malcolm Maclachlan contributed to this report.