The National City Council dismissed an investigator’s recommendation that National City Councilman Jerry Cano publicly apologize for a false sexual harassment allegation he made against one of his colleagues.
During a city council meeting earlier this year Cano complained to the city attorney about councilwoman Mona Rios’ behavior during a photo opportunity.
Rios revealed during the meeting that Cano had accused her of inappropriate touching.
Special Counsel William P. Curley, who was retained to investigate Cano on a separate matter, also examined the harrassment issue.
The investigator said Cano, in an email to him, withdrew his sexual harassment claim. Curley said he responded with a request to Cano for clarification because he interpretted the withdrawal of the complaint as meaning nothing happened.
Cano did not respond.
National City Mayor Ron Morrison on Tuesday did not vote in favor of Cano issuing Rios a public apology because Morrison said Cano never made a sexual harassment allegation.
He said it was Rios who announced it in public.
“Mr. Cano had a private discussion with the city attorney outside of the chamber’s and asked to have a private meeting between himself, Mrs. Rios and the city attorney so they can discuss inappropriate activity when they’re taking pictures that’s been going on for some time, nothing sexual was ever mentioned,” he said. “It was not until councilwoman Rios comes out in open session and then claimed that Mr. Cano was accusing her of sexual improprieties.”
Councilwoman Alejandra Sotelo Solis said when Cano had a chance to speak about the claim or give his side of the story he chose not to participate in the investigation.
Rios’ attorney Cory Briggs, who threatened a defamation lawsuit against Cano during public comment, said his client will have to explore her options.
“Because the three men running the city council decided at the end of the meeting, after concluding the item on which Mr. Cano had recused, that they might want to revisit the adequacy of the investigation, my client will have to wait to see what they do next,” he said.
“They are clearly trying to manipulate the situation to cover up their wrongdoing.
Unfortunately, everyone’s in limbo until they make their next move.”
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez sent a statement thorough her representative to request Cano’s resignation.
“Fabricating allegations of such nature to hurt a colleague’s career and, possibly to distract, the public from investigations surrounding council member Cano, himself, is shameful, and an insult to women and actual victims of sexual harassment and assault.”
