OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma state lawmaker who resigned abruptly final week has been accused by an Oklahoma Metropolis lobbyist of touching her inappropriately throughout a New Yr’s Eve social gathering at her dwelling.
Former first-term Democratic state Rep. Jose Cruz, 31, resigned from his Home seat final week, issuing a press release by which he apologized for “exercising poor judgment and performing inappropriately throughout a gathering.“ He didn’t elaborate on the small print of his actions.
Now, 33-year-old Sarah Rivin, the federal government relations director in Oklahoma for the American Coronary heart Affiliation, has come ahead with allegations that Cruz cornered her in her toilet, made feedback about her physique after which ran his hand up her leg. Cruz didn't reply to messages left Wednesday searching for touch upon the lady’s allegations.
“He got here in, closed the door behind him, blocked the door, stated inappropriate issues after which touched me inappropriately,“ Rivin stated in an interview with The Related Press. “I made it clear I used to be uncomfortable and he stepped apart.
“It was clearly shocking when someone you contemplate a buddy, actually, assaults you in your personal dwelling.“
Rivin stated she was shocked about what had occurred and started to cry when she recounted the incident to a buddy. She then went with two of her mates to her bed room, the place she stayed for a lot of the evening, whereas Cruz and his spouse remained on the social gathering till shortly after midnight.
“I largely simply felt panicked and wished to cover versus confronting that scenario,“ she stated.
After Cruz left the social gathering, Rivin stated he despatched a number of textual content messages to her saying he was drunk, apologizing and asking her to not inform anybody what had occurred. Rivin shared screenshots of the textual content messages with the AP.
Rivin filed a police report in regards to the alleged assault on Sunday, and Oklahoma Metropolis Police Capt. Valerie Littlejohn, with out figuring out Rivin or Cruise, confirmed the matter stays beneath investigation. When the investigation is full, it is going to be forwarded to Oklahoma County District Lawyer David Prater’s workplace to contemplate whether or not submitting fees towards Cruz, Littlejohn stated.
Underneath Oklahoma legislation, sexual battery is the intentional touching of somebody’s physique in a “lewd and lascivious method” with out the individual’s consent. It's a felony punishable by as much as 10 years in jail.
The Related Press sometimes doesn't determine victims of sexual assault, however Rivin agreed to the usage of her full title.
“As you may think about, coming ahead was actually scary, particularly with the legislative session arising,“ she stated, her voice quivering with emotion. “I simply need to do my job, and that’s what’s been hardest to grapple with.”
Rivin stated she additionally shared her account with Home Democratic Chief Emily Virgin, who confirmed in a press release to the AP on Wednesday that she and Caucus Chair Rep. Cyndi Munson instructed Cruz they believed he ought to resign.
“We heard instantly from the sufferer, and we believed her,“ stated Virgin, D-Norman. “She has nothing to realize from coming ahead and faces appreciable private and professional danger for merely talking out about this habits by somebody in energy. We respect her braveness.”
Lisa Dadio, a former police lieutenant who investigated intercourse crimes for the New Haven, Connecticut, Police Division, stated most of these circumstances are sometimes tough for each investigators and prosecutors to seek out possible trigger that a crime occurred.
“It comes right down to victims ... versus the one that dedicated the alleged incident,“ stated Dadio, who's now the director of the Heart for Superior Policing at New Haven College. “I hate to say ‘he stated, she stated,’ as a result of that’s so cliché, however that’s actually what it comes right down to.”