FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2020
CONTACT: Randall Avila
PHONE: (714) 453-0900

Statement on State Legislative Investigation Report into Assemblyman Bill Brough 

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - Hon. Fred M. Whitaker, Chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County, released the following statement:

“On September 16th, the Republican Party of Orange County Central Committee overwhelmingly passed a resolution asking Republican Assemblyman Bill Brough not to seek reelection due to several credible claims of sexual harassment by women in our party.

As an organization we did our due diligence in this matter. We spoke with the accusers and the accused before making this decision. We then endorsed Mayor Laurie Davies instead of the incumbent Assemblyman and the voters made their decision. Laurie Davies is our nominee for the 73rd Assembly District. We are confident the 73rd Assembly District will remain a Republican seat because we made the hard call and did the right thing. 

Today the State Legislative Workplace Conduct Unit released the results of the investigation into the accusations of sexual harassment. As a result Assemblyman Brough will be stripped of all committee assignments and will face mandatory sexual harassment training as well as retaliation prevention training. 

While the findings vindicated our decision there are no winners when it comes to sexual harassment. We applaud the women who stood up to intimidation, risking humiliation, so that others would not experience what they did.

Every member of our party should feel safe and respected. I am proud that unlike our Democrat counterparts who remain silent when credible accusations of sexual harassment and assault have been made against their own members even a local party officer, the Republican Party stood for what was right and not what was politically convenient."

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