Thequnorable lien Cool
Chair, Assembly Rules
State Capitol Room

Sacramento, Ch. 953141

Er
Committee

Dear Assembly Member Cooley.

I am 
writing to report that I was sexually assauited by Assembly Member Dababneh.

It is not my intention to 

EDort eve detail of what ha a -
degc?ptiun? PP had In this letter, but here Is a brlef

n" Janna? 15i 2915. Mr. Dababneh and were two of the many invited guests at a party to
tElEhratE two mutual friends who ware planning to get married. Most of the guests in
attendance P?liti?ai Professionals, including many colleagues and associates I have lrnown
for years. I should have had no reason to fear for my safety. When I went to the loathroorn after
hie-"13 at the Party for a few hours, I felt the weight of a body push me into the restroom. I
heard the? door slam behind us. When I turned around. I saw that it was Matt Uababneh. He
stood blocking the door and began to masturbate and move toward me, urging me to touch
him. It was a terrifying experience. During the time be blocked me in that room, my instincts
were focused on escaping without any physical contact and in a way that would not cause a
scene. Before the ordeal ended, he told me not to tell anyone.

Although a number of press reports have placed this event in Sacramento, it actually occurredEl
at a privatesrenue inside a Las Vegas Hotel. I went along with-the assumption that it happehne
in Sacramento because I reaiited that correcting this assumption would hiser have led to 
Identi?cation of Mr. Dababneh and I was not ready to take this step. i wish I could have

ens-meted this error sooner, but until I heard directly from the members of the Assembly

'Ittee during the hearing held iast week that they are committed to protecting victims,

 

For nearly two years, I have lived in fear that I will be shunned or retaliated against if my
professional community learns that I was sexually assaulted by a lawmaker. And that fear
caused me to remain silent, instead of seeking justice through formal channels in the
legislature. My tear comes not only from the perpetrator?s instruction not to tell, but also from

the iacir ofa trustworthy system in the state house for investigating reports oi sexual
harassment and holding those who commit it accountable, regardless at their position.

At the November 23'? hearing held by the Assembly Rules Subcommittee on Harassment,
Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response, you encouraged women to step

forward with a promise that perpetrators would be held accountable. I still tear thati will be
retaliated against. But I am stepping forward. Victims stepping forward deserve orotection iro

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