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Woman Claims Carson Mayor Sexually Harassed Her, Fired Her For Reporting Him
Albert Robles (Facebook)
A former city worker of Carson is suing the city and its mayor after allegedly being fired for reporting that the mayor had sexually harassed her multiple times.Monette Gavino, a onetime field council representative for Carson's now-mayor Albert Robles, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday alleging wrongful termination, sexual and gender harassment, a hostile work environment, retaliation and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, according to City News Service.
Gavino worked on Robles' campaign for Carson City Council, and joined his staff once he was elected in 2013. According to her complaint, Robles asked her to be his "secret girlfriend" while in a car around the time he was elected to Carson's city council. When Gavino declined his request, Robles allegedly grabbed the back of her head, began kissing her and put one of his hands up her dress.
Robles allegedly then grabbed her buttocks, and began moving his hand further up her dress. Gavino pushed him away and jumped out of the car, but not before the now mayor allegedly said, "Hey Monette, I'd love to see you in your thong."
Robles became Carson's Mayor in 2015, and allegedly continued to make advances on Gavino until she reported his behavior to her supervisor earlier this year. The complaint claims that she was fired shortly after, on July 9, for "budget reasons," according to MyFoxLA.
Carson's mayor is no stranger to legal troubles. Earlier this year, the L.A. County District Attorney's office filed a lawsuit against Robles, arguing that the man's two elected positions—as mayor of Carson and as a director of a regional water board—were a conflict of interest, according to the L.A. Times.
Robles is also under investigation for potentially not living in Carson, despite being one of the city's elected officials.
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