California state lawmaker accused of sexual harassment

A lobbyist is accusing a California state assemblyman of following her into a bathroom and masturbating in front of her, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

Sacramento lobbyist Pamela Lopez alleged that Democratic Assemblyman Matt Dababneh sexually harassed her in 2016. Lopez had previously shared her story of being harassed, but had not publicly named Dababneh until Monday, when she filed a complaint with the California State Assembly.

Dababneh’s laywer told The Los Angeles Times “these events did not happen,” though the assemblyman himself did not comment on Monday.

{mosads}Dababneh, 36, is unmarried and is one of the youngest representatives in the state legislature, the newspaper reported.

Lopez’s accusation come as several state and federal lawmakers are facing allegations of sexual misconduct. She told the Times that the surge of other women coming forward inspired her to do the same.

Women have come forward in recent weeks to accuse Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) of inappropriate behavior. 

Lopez’s fellow assemblyman, Raul Bocanegra, resigned last month after six women claimed Bocanegra had sexually harassed them.

An Ohio lawmaker resigned last month after being accused of “inappropriate behavior” with another man.