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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti informed U.S. senators contemplating his nomination to be ambassador to India that he by no means witnessed a former high adviser sexually harass certainly one of his police bodyguards, allegations which can be on the heart of a lawsuit filed in opposition to his administration.
The Democratic mayor’s assertion Tuesday got here throughout questioning from members of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, which held a listening to in Washington to contemplate Garcetti’s nomination. Garcetti was nominated for one of many nation’s highest profile diplomatic posts in July by President Joe Biden
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire informed Garcetti she was involved about accusations in opposition to former political adviser and confidant Rick Jacobs, which embody claims that the mayor “didn’t reply to these allegations in a manner that will have stopped the conduct.” She famous that girls’s rights and sexual harassment stay precedence points in India, the world’s largest democracy.
“I feel it’s essential that we mannequin the conduct that we wish to see in our allies,” she informed Garcetti.
The mayor, addressing the Jacobs’ case, mentioned: “I by no means witnessed, nor was it delivered to my consideration, the conduct that’s been alleged. … If it had been, I might have instantly taken motion to cease that.”
If confirmed, he mentioned combatting sexual harassment and assault can be core points for him.
The mayor mentioned “persistent motion” was wanted to help and shield victims. He emphasised that as mayor, he established insurance policies to centralize complaints and allow victims to submit reviews of alleged abuse anonymously.
“Harassment and discrimination haven’t any place within the office, no place in our society. I’ve zero tolerance for that. And I additionally know that phrases aren’t sufficient,” he mentioned.
Shaheen then mentioned, “I look ahead to your robust stance when you’re confirmed.”
The alternate stood out in what was largely a drama-free listening to for the two-term mayor. Garcetti promised to strengthen America’s ties to India, together with engaged on protection points, local weather change, open markets and the coronavirus.
Garcetti was a powerful Biden supporter in the course of the 2020 presidential marketing campaign and was named co-chair for the incoming president’s inauguration final January.
He nomination for the ambassadorship comes as he’s wrapping up a turbulent two phrases, framed by the pandemic and a homeless disaster that has seen encampments unfold into nearly each nook of the town. California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla alluded to “challenges” confronted by Garcetti throughout his time main the nation’s second-most-populous metropolis, however these points by no means got here into play in the course of the listening to.
The lawsuit in opposition to the town prices that Jacobs incessantly sexually harassed one of many mayor’s police bodyguards whereas Garcetti ignored it or laughed it off. The mayor has repeatedly denied the claims.
Garcetti wants a majority vote to be confirmed within the evenly divided Senate, which is managed by Democrats as a result of Vice President Kamala Harris has the authority to interrupt tie votes. Harris is a former California U.S. senator who’s shut pals with Garcetti.
Garcetti was certainly one of three nominees who appeared earlier than the Overseas Relations Committee throughout a frivolously attended listening to. The others have been College of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann, Biden’s choose to function ambassador to Germany, and profession diplomat Donald Armin Blome, the president’s choice for ambassador to Pakistan.
Gutmann confronted sharp questioning from the committee’s rating Republican, Idaho Sen. James Risch, who mentioned federal information exhibits the college obtained $86 million in donations and contracts from sources in China since 2014.
“Chinese language affect is an issue everywhere in the world,” Risch mentioned.
“I used to be shocked at this variety of $86 million, flowing into your establishment,” he added, saying he was shocked to search out out she was no more conversant in the items.
Gutmann responded that the varsity and its hospitals raised over $5 billion throughout that point, so the quantity from China represents a tiny fraction. “It’s not stunning that I don’t know of particular items and contracts,” she mentioned, given the scale and quantity of the contributions. She added that no items are allowed to threaten educational freedom or nationwide safety.
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